MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th December, 2018) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov held a meeting on Thursday with South Sudanese Ambassador to Russia Chol Tong Mayay Jang, during which the two diplomats addressed the development of bilateral relations and the civil conflict in South Sudan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"A number of topical issues regarding further development of Russian-South Sudanese cooperation in various fields have been discussed during the meeting. Moreover, the two sides confirmed their mutual disposition to progressively increase constructive cooperation between Moscow and Juba in the international arena, including in the United Nations and other multilateral platforms," the statement said, adding that the meeting was organized at the ambassador's request.
The senior diplomats also touched upon the issue of the settlement of the armed conflict in South Sudan.
"There was also a thorough exchange of views on the situation in South Sudan, with the emphasis on advancing the peaceful settlement of the civil conflict in the country," the ministry added.
The civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 � just two years after the country gained independence from Sudan. The country's president, Salva Kiir, accused former Vice-President Riek Machar and several others of planning a coup, which led to an armed confrontation between the rebel forces, led by Machar, and the government.
