Kenya peacekeepers begin withdrawal from South Sudan

The first of around 1 000 Kenyan soldiers returned from South Sudan on Wednesday as the government followed through on a threat to withdraw from the UN peacekeeping mission.

The first batch of 100 troops landed in Nairobi a week after Kenya said it would pull out in protest at a UN decision to fire the Kenyan commander of the mission for failing to protect civilians.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sacked Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki after an investigation said lack of leadership led to a "chaotic and ineffective response" during heavy fighting in the capital Juba in July.