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]
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History
editThe 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.”[3] 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.[3]
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]
Migrant Workers
editThere 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]
Education
editIn 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]
Sports
editIn 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]
Peacekeeping
editThe Philippine National Police has been sending contingents to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan since its independence. [14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Philippines extends hand to South Sudan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Embassy History". Philippine Embassy Nairobi. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ a b c "Philippines, South Sudan establish diplomatic relations". Philippine Official Gazette. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ "PH Ambassador Presents Credentials as Non-Resident Envoy to South Sudan". Department of Foreign Affairs - Philippines. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Del Callar, Michaela (16 March 2013). "PHL, South Sudan establish diplomatic ties". GMA News. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ Tubeza, Philip C. (23 March 2012). "Government lifts OFW deployment ban in Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ Jaymalin,Mayen (28 October 2015). "Gov't allows OFW deployment to South Sudan". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "POEA allows deployment of OFWs to South Sudan". Sun Star. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "POEA allows redeployment of OFWs in South Sudan". Sun Star. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Public Advisory No. 2021-47 - Lowering Alert Level in South Sudan and issuance of POEA's Governing Board Resolution No. 10-2021". Philippine Embassy in Kenya. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "PH Ambassador Visits South Sudan, Promotes Bilateral Relations". Department of Foreign Affairs - Philippines. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit has been conferred with honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities by University of Luzon and International Leadership Institute of Ethiopia". Office of the President - Republic of South Sudan Official Facebook Page. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "'More than basketball': South Sudan go from underdogs to history-makers". Al Jazeera. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "PH Ambassador Witnesses Medal Pinning Ceremony of Philippines Police Contingent to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)". Philippine Embassy in Kenya. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.