The Maldives and the Republic of South Sudan officially established diplomatic relations on May 4 (Thursday). An official Joint Communique formalised diplomatic relations between the two countries. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Thilmeeza Hussain and Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Sudan to the United Nations Akuei Bona Malwal signed the Communique.
Despite being relatively small nations in the global arena, the Maldives and South Sudan share common interests and concerns. The establishment of diplomatic relations opens doors for increased bilateral and multilateral cooperation. This will achieve shared objectives in areas of mutual interest.
Recent Diplomatic Achievements
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s foreign policy prioritises cultivating meaningful partnerships with countries that value friendship and mutual respect. As a result, the Maldives has entered into agreements with various countries on the diplomatic front.
The government has recently signed Visa Exemption Agreements with the Republic of Burundi, the Sultanate of Oman, Cambodia, and the Republic of Rwanda. These agreements allow for the exemption of visas for the nationals of Maldives and their respective counterparts for single or multiple entries, exits, or transit for a period of 30 days.
In April, the country held its fourth round of Policy Talks with the Government of Japan. The discussions focused on strengthening the existing strong ties between the two nations. Specifically, the talks aimed to enhance economic and development collaboration, trade and investment, cultural interchange, and regional and maritime cooperation. Additionally, the country has officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a Dialogue Partner.
The Maldives maintains diplomatic ties with 172 nations and has a presence in 17 countries through its resident missions. These missions are located in Bangladesh, China, Germany, the European Union, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Nations (Geneva), the United Nations (New York), and the United Kingdom.
