Holy See, South Sudan establish diplomatic relations

The Holy See and South Sudan have established diplomatic relations. A joint statement issued on Friday said the two sides “desirous of promoting bonds of mutual friendship, have decided by common accord to establish diplomatic relations at the level of Apostolic Nunciature on the part of the Holy See and of Embassy on the part of the Republic of South Sudan.” Africa’s youngest nation was born on July 9, 2011, following South Sudanese voting to secede from the Arab-dominated north in January referendum that year, that was promised in a 2005 peace deal ending 5 decades of north-south civil war that cost two million lives. The Holy See supported South Sudan’s quest for self-realization., and hence, at the independence ceremony in the capital Juba, on July 9, 2011, there was a papal delegation headed by Kenyan Cardinal John Njue, Arcivescovo di Nairobi. Five days later, on July 14, South Sudan was admitted into United Nations family as the 193rd member.