June 9th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, discussed with South Sudan’s First Vice-president, Taban Deng Gai, the ongoing efforts to end the over five-year-old conflict in the world’s youngest nation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The talks between the two senior leaders were held on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which took place between 6th and 8th of June.
The meeting also reiterated the commitment and the willingness to expand the interaction between Moscow and Juba at the United Nations and other international forums.
“[The sides] discussed the situation in the Republic of South Sudan focusing on the task of advancing the process of settlement of the internal conflict in this country [South Sudan],” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement partly read.
South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 following a flare-up of violence at a national convention for the ruling party, the SPLM.
The government in Juba and opposition groups signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement in Addis Ababa to end the war. The parties are set to form a government by November 12, something initially set for May 12th.
