South Sudan in delicate dance with Russia as historic elections loom

Last week, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan stepped into Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin. Their talks echoed the promise of an expanding relationship. However, an air of curiosity tinged the talks as the pair discussed energy, trade, and the ever-hot subject of security. In a secluded meeting that held the weight of geopolitics, Kiir and Putin's dialogue not only spanned the customary diplomatic matters but also ventured into the depths of political and security concerns within South Sudan.