PH AMBASSADOR VISITS SOUTH SUDAN, PROMOTES BILATERAL RELATIONS
Philippine Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang with Acting Foreign Minister of South Sudan Deng Dau Deng Malek
NAIROBI, 18 August 2023 – Philippine non-resident Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang met with various South Sudanese officials during a visit to Juba on 15-17 August 2023 to further discuss cooperation between the two countries.
In her meeting with South Sudan’s Acting Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng Malek, the two officials exchanged views on how to better facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and South Sudan, including in the areas of education and sports. Ambassador Tang congratulated South Sudan’s basketball team for qualifying in the FIBA World Cup to be held in Manila on 25 August – 10 September 2023. She wished the South Sudanese team, the first from East Africa to qualify for the FIBA World Cup, a successful campaign and a memorable visit to Manila.
Ambassador Tang also met with other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on how the Philippines and South Sudan can closely work together both bilaterally and in the multilateral fora.
The Ambassador also paid a courtesy call on South Sudan’s Second Vice President Dr. Wani Igga who graduated from the Bulacan State University in 2017 with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration degree. Vice President Igga recalled his fond experiences as a student in the Philippines and commended the country’s education system. He expressed the hope that more South Sudanese nationals will also be able to study in Philippine academic institutions.
In her meeting with Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, Minister of Youth and Sports, the latter conveyed that South Sudan looks up to the Philippines as a “model” on empowering the youth and developing competent human resources.
The Philippines and South Sudan mark the 10th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. The Philippines’ engagements with the world’s youngest country are covered by the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. END
Ambassador Tang with Second Vice President Dr. Wani Igga. Vice President Igga recounted that he took up his doctorate studies in the Philippines while serving as one of South Sudan’s vice presidents. 
From left to right: Amb. Dr. Riek Puok Riek, Director General for Multilateral Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC); Ambassador Tang; Ambassador Jacqueline Natepi Ben Lochalamoi, Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the MFAIC; and Director James Hanafi Killa of the Asia Department of the MFAIC
In a brief press statement, Ambassador Tang expressed her optimism in the trajectory of Philippines-South Sudan diplomatic relations, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. 
Ambassador Tang presents Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu premium mango chocolates from the Philippines.
