PH, S. Sudan forge ties

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and South Sudan, the newest country in the world, have formally established diplomatic relations, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

The DFA said a joint communique was signed last Wednesday at the United Nations office in Nairobi, Kenya, by the Philippine and South Sudanese ambassadors to Kenya, Domingo Lucenario Jr. and Majok Guandong Thiep.

The Philippines officially recognized South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state soon after the South Sudanese approved an independence plebiscite on July 9, 2011.

Located in eastern Africa, South Sudan has a population of 9 million, mostly indigenous ethnic groups—many of them Christians—engaged in agriculture.

In a statement, Lucenario said the formal establishment “will mutually benefit our respective countries and peoples because we would now be able to intensify relations in various common areas of cooperation.”