Maldives recognises independence of South Sudan

The Maldives Foreign Ministry has issued a statement formally recognising the Republic of South Sudan as an independent and sovereign state.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem sent a letter of congratulations to his South Sudanese counterpart Deng Alor Kuol.

“The Government of Maldives plans to establish diplomatic relations with South Sudan at an early date and work towards strengthening cooperation between the Maldives and South Sudan in areas of mutual interest,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“After decades of civil war and sacrifice of many lives, the South Sudanese people, in January this year, voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to declare independence and create a new country,” the statement noted.