President Kiir and visiting French lawmakers on Monday discussed the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

The French Parliamentary Caucus on South Sudan led by its chairman, Christophe Marion said they came to Juba to better understand the war in Sudan and its impacts on South Sudan and the region.

Marion said with the prevailing situation, “we are convinced that South Sudan could be an element of stability and can contribute to the stability of the sub-region”.

Mr Marion further said Paris hopes to establish partnership with South Sudan in areas of culture, agriculture, finance and the economy, said Kiir’s office in a statement.

On his part, South Sudan Foreign Minister, Dr. James Morgan said the French legislators commended President Kiir for opening the country’s borders to Sudanese refugees.

Continuing intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF has devastated the capital Khartoum and escalated to surrounding cities including Darfur, threatening to plunge Sudan into a civil war and destabilise the region.