International and regional friends of South Sudan need to do their best to ensure the country does not deteriorate into further possible crises, according to a former US diplomat.

Ms. Robin Renee Sanders made the statement amidst reports of violence in some parts of the country.

Dr. Robin Renee Sanders is the former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) from 2002 to 2005, and to Nigeria from 2007 to 2010.

She said international partners like United Nations and the African Union must come to dialogue with leaders of the country to find a solution to the crisis.

“The main thing is to not have the country deteriorate into the civil war, so I do think that if we have outsider- friends of South Sudan to talk to each of the party separately and see where there are areas of consensus that could possibly pull them back,” she observed, speaking to al Jazeera Television.