Stop South Sudan’s descent

In what is likely to re-ignite a civil war that has impoverished South Sudan, President Salva Kiir replaced his deputy and nemesis, Riek Machar.

This is the second time Mr Kiir is sacking Dr Machar. He first sacked him in 2013 sparking off a cycle civil war in Africa’s youngest nation.

The signing of a peace agreement in Addis Ababa last year led to the formation of a transitional government in which Machar took up the post of first vice president.

This did not, however, help cure the rifts nor erase the mistrust that the two leaders hold for each other in a country divided along tribal lines.

After only two months, fighting broke out again early this month leading to the massacre of more than 300 people.

Yet in a show of rare unity, the two leaders rejected proposals for increased peace keeping troops, arguing they were able to manage the affairs of the poor African country beset by a weak economy, famine and displacement of people by a never-ending war.

A time has come for the international community to act tough with the leaders of South Sudan. That offers the only best way to pull back South Sudan from the brink; where it has been driven by poor leadership.