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Philippines–South Sudan relations refers to the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and South Sudan. The Philippines recognized South Sudan as a sovereign state nearly a month after it declared its independence on 9 July 2011.[1] The Philippine embassy in Nairobi has jurisdiction over South Sudan since March 2013. This was held previously by Philippine embassy in Cairo.[2]
The Philippines officially recognized South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state soon after South Sudan declared its independence on July 9, 2011.[3] The Philippines and South Sudan established diplomatic relations through a Joint Communiqué signed by Philippine and South Sudanese ambassadors to Kenya, Domingo Lucenario Jr. and Majok Guandong Thiep at the United Nations Office at Nairobi on 13 March 2013. In a statement, Lucenario said the formal establishment of relations between the Philippines and South Sudan will be mutually beneficial "because [the two countries] would now be able to intensify relations in various common areas of cooperation.” The two ambassadors also discussed the need to establish a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation to identify various areas of cooperation to benefit the peoples of the Philippines and South Sudan.
On April 13, 2016, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan accepted the credentials of Non-Resident Philippine Ambassador Bayani V. Mangibin.
On 14 June 2023, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan accepted the credentials of the first female Non-Resident Philippine Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Philippines-South Sudan diplomatic relations and the 125th anniversary of declaration of Philippine independence. [4]
There are more than 300 Overseas Filipinos working in South Sudan.[5] On 13 January 2012, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration banned the deployment of Filipino workers to South Sudan due to the escalation of inter-ethnic violence in the country's Jonglei State. The ban was lifted two months later (on 22 March 2012) as the political and security situation in South Sudan improved.[6]
On 24 December 2013, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reinstated the ban on deployment of Filipino workers to South Sudan at the outbreak of the South Sudanese Civil War. On 21 October 2015, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration partially lifted of the deployment ban upon the recommendations of the Department of Foreign Affairs to allow Filipinos personnel of international organizations to return to South Sudan on the condition that employers will assume responsibility for the evacuation of Filipino workers. The approval was specifically granted to Dai Nippon Construction for deployment solely to Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded projects of the Nile River Bridge and implementation of Water Supply System.[7] On 24 January 2016, the same approval was granted to Pacific Architects and Engineers Incorporated under its contract with the US State Department in South Sudan for its Flight Ops Support Program.[8]
On 30 June 2016, in view of the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity and improving situation, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration allowed redeployment of returning Filipino workers to South Sudan, subject to proof of existing employment.[9]
However, the deployment ban was reinstated starting from 16 July 2016 until 12 November 2021 due to the collapse of the 2015 peace agreement. On 12 November 2021, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration issued Governing Board Resolution No. 10, Series of 2023 allowing the processing and deployment to South Sudan of returning Filipino workers with valid and existing contracts subject to submission of necessary documents due to continued improvement of peace and order in the country following the 2018 revitalized peace deal. [10]
In 2017, South Sudan’s Second Vice President Dr. Wani Igga graduated from the Bulacan State University with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration degree. [11]
In 2022, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit was conferred with honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities by the University of Luzon in Philippines and International Leadership Institute of Ethiopia. [12]
In 2023, South Sudan Bright Stars Basketball Team made history by winning their first FIBA World Cup game and by qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the FIBA World Cup games held in Manila, Philippines. [13]
The Philippine National Police has been sending contingents to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan since its independence. [14]