South Sudan Army Chief Sacked

A decree read out on state television announced that Gen James Hoth Mai would be removed with immediate effect.

No official reason was given for his removal.

Gen Paul Malong was named as the new General head of staff.

The country has been in turmoil since mid December 2013.

Last week, rebels seized the oil hub of Bentiu.

They targeted hundreds of people who had taken refuge inside a mosque, a church and a hospital, and killed them because of their ethnicity.

Bentiu, capital of the oil-rich Unity State, has changed hands several times during the conflict.

Control of the oilfields is crucial because South Sudan gets about 90% of its revenue from oil.

There has been fighting in Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei states.

The conflict pits Mr Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, against Mr Machar, from the Nuer community.

More than a million people have been forced to flee from their homes since the violence started in December 2013

Peace talks, which were due to resume on Wednesday in neighbouring Ethiopia, have been delayed until 27 April.

Both Mr Kiir and Mr Machar have prominent supporters from various communities, but there have been numerous reports of rebels killing Dinkas and the army targeting Nuers.

By Angel Mboya

Source: BBC News

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