MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and South Sudanese Ambassador to Russia Telar Ring Deng have discussed on Friday international assistance to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in South Sudan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"In the context of the discussion of topical issues of the Russian-South Sudanese relations the two sides have confirmed their mutual intention to expand the bilateral cooperation in various fields, including the deepening of the political dialogue," the ministry said.
"They also exchanged views on the current situation in South Sudan and the international assistance to the peaceful resolution of the military and political conflict in this country," the ministry noted.
The situation in South Sudan has remained unstable since the country gained independence in 2011. The conflict that broke out in the country in 2013 between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups has claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 people, more than 2,2 million South Sudanese had to leave their homes.
On August 17 the authorities of South Sudan refused to sign a peace accord in Addis Ababa with armed rebels and took a 15-day break for consultations. The next day the rebels led by former Vice-President Riek Machar said that the government forces had attacked their positions near Imatong. On August 19, the United States circulated a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council that envisages the imposition of an arms embargo and the expansion of the sanctions regime against South Sudan.