Riek Machar appointed South Sudan vice president

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reappointed his rival Riek Machar as vice president.

President Kiir announced this on state television on Thursday saying Riek Machar will be his first vice president, but no further details were given.

South Sudan was expected to have set up a unity government last month, in accordance with the peace agreement signed in August 2015.

Both President Kiir and Riek Machar have been blamed for the ongoing conflict in the country due to their lack of political will to reach an agreement.

Riek Machar served as first Vice President when the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but was dismissed along with the entire cabinet by President Kiir in July 2013.