def split_remote_branch(branch):
    """Splits a remote branch's name into the name of the remote and the name
    of the branch.

    Parameters
    ----------
    branch: str
      the remote branch's name to split

    Returns
    -------
    list of str
    """
    assert '/' in branch, \
        "remote branch %s must have had a /" % branch
    assert not branch.endswith('/'), \
        "branch name with trailing / is invalid. (%s)" % branch
    return branch.split('/', 1)