# Foreign relations of South Sudan

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The Republic of South Sudan established relations with sovereign states and international organizations following independence on 9 July 2011. South Sudan's former ruling country of Sudan was the first state in the world to recognize South Sudan.

## Foreign policy

In the immediate aftermath of the country's independence, South Sudan's foreign policy prerogative was seen as a challenge in the quest to balance relations between the West, other African states and the Arab states. Since independence, South Sudan has sought to shed its reliance on Sudan, reportedly planning to introduce the Swahili language and orient itself toward East Africa.

## Diplomatic relations

Sudan was the first country to recognise the independence of South Sudan on 8 July 2011, one day prior to independence. Four other states followed suit on 8 July. Over 25 countries had recognised the country on 9 July, including all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
On 14 July 2011, South Sudan was admitted as a member of the United Nations without a vote or objections raised by its members.
List of countries which South Sudan maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | Sudan | 9 July 2011 |
| 2 | Egypt | 9 July 2011 |
| 3 | Germany | 9 July 2011 |
| 4 | Kenya | 9 July 2011 |
| 5 | Botswana | 9 July 2011 |
| 6 | Brazil | 9 July 2011 |
| 7 | China | 9 July 2011 |
| 8 | France | 9 July 2011 |
| 9 | Japan | 9 July 2011 |
| 10 | Norway | 9 July 2011 |
| — | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 9 July 2011 |
| 11 | South Korea | 9 July 2011 |
| 12 | Sweden | 9 July 2011 |
| 13 | United Kingdom | 9 July 2011 |
| 14 | United States | 9 July 2011 |
| 15 | Cuba | 10 July 2011 |
| 16 | Eritrea | 11 July 2011 |
| 17 | Namibia | 12 July 2011 |
| 18 | Mozambique | 15 July 2011 |
| 19 | Cambodia | 22 July 2011 |
| 20 | Israel | 28 July 2011 |
| 21 | Russia | 22 August 2011 |
| 22 | Netherlands | 9 September 2011 |
| 23 | Austria | 21 September 2011 |
| 24 | Spain | 21 September 2011 |
| 25 | South Africa | 22 September 2011 |
| 26 | Hungary | 23 September 2011 |
| 27 | Slovenia | 23 September 2011 |
| 28 | Australia | 24 September 2011 |
| 29 | Malawi | 26 September 2011 |
| 30 | Mexico | 26 September 2011 |
| 31 | Iceland | 29 September 2011 |
| 32 | Timor-Leste | 13 October 2011 |
| 33 | Turkey | 13 October 2011 |
| 34 | Belgium | 14 October 2011 |
| 35 | North Korea | 18 November 2011 |
| 36 | Montenegro | 21 November 2011 |
| 37 | Slovakia | 12 December 2011 |
| 38 | Mongolia | 20 December 2011 |
| 39 | Canada | 22 December 2011 |
| 40 | Luxembourg | 22 December 2011 |
| 41 | Serbia | 3 January 2012 |
| 42 | Djibouti | 11 February 2012 |
| 43 | Bangladesh | 16 February 2012 |
| 44 | Ethiopia | 27 February 2012 |
| 45 | India | 13 March 2012 |
| 46 | Denmark | 4 May 2012 |
| 47 | Ireland | 4 May 2012 |
| 48 | Zimbabwe | 4 May 2012 |
| 49 | Somalia | 18 May 2012 |
| 50 | Italy | 23 May 2012 |
| 51 | Switzerland | 23 May 2012 |
| 52 | Pakistan | 4 June 2012 |
| 53 | Georgia | 15 June 2012 |
| 54 | Finland | 22 July 2012 |
| 55 | Turkmenistan | 17 August 2012 |
| 56 | Uganda | 3 September 2012 |
| 57 | Ukraine | 25 September 2012 |
| 58 | Bahrain | 28 September 2012 |
| 59 | Fiji | 5 October 2012 |
| 60 | Nigeria | 17 October 2012 |
| 61 | Azerbaijan | 23 October 2012 |
| 62 | Central African Republic | 21 November 2012 |
| 63 | Burundi | 28 November 2012 |
| 64 | Czech Republic | December 2012 |
| 65 | Benin | 30 January 2013 |
| 66 | Poland | 31 January 2013 |
| 67 | Kuwait | 12 February 2013 |
| — | Holy See | 22 February 2013 |
| 68 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 4 March 2013 |
| 69 | Philippines | 13 March 2013 |
| 70 | Romania | 17 April 2013 |
| 71 | Portugal | 23 April 2013 |
| 72 | Oman | 11 June 2013 |
| 73 | Seychelles | 24 July 2013 |
| 74 | Belarus | 4 September 2013 |
| 75 | Sri Lanka | 25 September 2013 |
| 76 | Rwanda | 21 October 2013 |
| 77 | Saudi Arabia | 3 December 2013 |
| 78 | Thailand | 12 December 2013 |
| 79 | Lebanon | 23 May 2014 |
| 80 | Ghana | 15 September 2014 |
| — | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 12 November 2014 |
| — | State of Palestine | 24 January 2015 |
| 81 | Jordan | 1 March 2015 |
| 82 | Ecuador | 8 May 2015 |
| 83 | Tunisia | 26 June 2015 |
| 84 | Algeria | 9 September 2015 |
| 85 | Equatorial Guinea | 8 October 2015 |
| 86 | Tanzania | 11 April 2016 |
| 87 | Angola | 10 June 2016 |
| 88 | United Arab Emirates | 23 June 2016 |
| 89 | Morocco | 2 February 2017 |
| 90 | Mauritania | 3 July 2017 |
| 91 | Estonia | 18 September 2017 |
| 92 | Venezuela | 22 September 2017 |
| 93 | Comoros | 17 May 2018 |
| 94 | Vietnam | 21 February 2019 |
| 95 | Nicaragua | 22 July 2019 |
| 96 | Qatar | 10 September 2020 |
| 97 | Latvia | 23 September 2021 |
| 98 | Cyprus | 24 September 2021 |
| 99 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 27 October 2021 |
| 100 | Croatia | 16 November 2021 |
| 101 | Nepal | 28 March 2022 |
| 102 | Senegal | 19 July 2022 |
| 103 | Indonesia | 20 September 2022 |
| 104 | Dominican Republic | 11 April 2023 |
| 105 | Maldives | 4 May 2023 |
| 106 | Niger | 19 July 2023 |
| 107 | Greece | 20 March 2024 |
| 108 | Libya | 20 March 2024 |
| 109 | Malaysia | 20 March 2024 |
| 110 | Ivory Coast | 21 November 2024 |
| 111 | Guinea | Unknown |
| 112 | Sierra Leone | Unknown |

## Representation in South Sudan

The United States upgraded its Juba consulate to an embassy on 9 July 2011, as did France. Also Sudan has announced that it plans to open an embassy in Juba, upon independence, while Egypt has announced it intends to convert its existing consulate in Juba into a full embassy. The United Kingdom has opened an embassy in South Sudan, as well.
On 16 September 2011, the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Norway presented their credentials, the first to do so. Credentials were presented on 15 November of that year by Chinese, German and Kenyan ambassadors.

### International organisations

South Sudan became a member of the United Nations on 13 July 2011. It joined the African Union on 27 July 2011. It is also a member of: the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
South Sudan has also either applied or is in the process of applying to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Commonwealth of Nations, the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. South Sudan has also been assured membership in the Arab League, should it decide to pursue membership, though it could also opt for observer status. it may also seek membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which has expressed interest in giving South Sudan admission despite not being a majority Muslim state.
On 24 July 2011, President Salva Kiir told the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly that he hoped the EAC will consider expediting South Sudan's accession to the supranational organisation. South Sudan is considered very likely to join the EAC, but an exact timetable for admission had not yet been mooted publicly.
South Sudan is an observer state of the Non-Aligned Movement.
| International organisation | Status |
| East African Community (EAC) | South Sudan joined the EAC on 5 September 2016. |
| International Olympic Committee (IOC) | A South Sudanese marathon runner competed as an Independent Olympian at the 2012 London Olympics. On 7 November 2015, South Sudan became the 206th IOC Member State. The South Sudan National Olympic Committee was founded in 2015. |
| United Nations (UN) | On 14 July, South Sudan became the 193rd UN Member State. |
| FIFA (FIFA) | On 25 May 2012, South Sudan became the 209th member of FIFA. |

## Africa
### Comoros

First ambassador of South Sudan to Comoros presented his credentials to Comoros in 2018.

### Egypt

Essam Sharaf, Prime Minister of Egypt after the Arab Spring-inspired revolution in 2011 made his first foreign visit to Khartoum and Juba in the lead-up to South Sudan's secession. Egypt was one of four countries to recognise South Sudan as an independent state on the first day.

### Sudan

Since independence relations with Sudan have been under negotiation. Sudan's then President Omar al-Bashir first announced, in January 2011, that dual citizenship in the North and the South would be allowed, but upon the independence of South Sudan he retracted the offer. He has also suggested an EU-style confederation. In February 2012, an agreement was reached by which citizens of both countries could live, work, and own property in both countries, and freely travel between the two.

### Uganda

Prior to independence relations between the two states were fostered through cultural contacts such as the presence of South Sudanese students in Uganda. As independence approaches the two states started to enhance their economic ties. However, the Lord's Resistance Army's presence in South Sudan was a stumbling block.

## Americas

| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
| Argentina | N/A | Argentina recognized South Sudan on 2 August 2011. |
| Canada | 22 December 2011 | Canada recognized South Sudan on 7 July 2011. Canada has an embassy in Juba. |
| Chile | N/A | Chile recognized South Sudan on 7 July 2011. |
| Brazil | 9 July 2011 | Brazil recognized and established diplomatic relations with South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Colombia | N/A | Colombia recognized South Sudan 16 July 2011. |
| Cuba | 10 July 2011 | Cuba recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Dominican Republic | 11 April 2023 | |
| Ecuador | 8 May 2015 | |
| Guyana | N/A | Guyana recognized South Sudan on 14 July 2011. |
| Jamaica | N/A | Jamaica recognized South Sudan on 6 October 2011. |
| Mexico | 26 September 2011 | Mexico recognized South Sudan on 14 July 2011. Mexico is represented in South Sudan through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| Nicaragua | 22 July 2019 | |
| Panama | N/A | Panama recognized South Sudan on 18 August 2011. |
| Peru | N/A | Peru recognized South Sudan on 14 July 2011. |
| Suriname | N/A | Suriname recognized South Sudan on 20 July 2011. |
| United States | 9 July 2011 | United States recognized and established diplomatic relations with South Sudan on 9 July 2011. United States has an embassy in Juba. |
| Uruguay | N/A | Uruguay recognized South Sudan on 13 July 2011. |
| Venezuela | 22 September 2017 | Venezuela recognized South Sudan on 26 December 2011. |

## Asia

| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
| Armenia | N/A | Armenia recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Azerbaijan | 23 October 2012 | |
| Bahrain | 28 September 2012 | Bahrain recognized South Sudan on 10 July 2011. |
| Bangladesh | 16 February 2012 | Bangladesh recognized South Sudan on 20 July 2011. |
| Cambodia | 22 July 2011 | Cambodia recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| China | 9 July 2011 | China recognized and established diplomatic relations with South Sudan on 9 July 2011 |
| Georgia | 15 June 2012 | |
| India | March 2012 | India recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011 and the consulate was upgraded to an embassy in March 2012 |
| Indonesia | 20 September 2022 | Indonesia recognized South Sudan on 12 July 2011 |
| Israel | 28 July 2011 | Israel recognized South Sudan on 10 July 2011. |
| Iran | N/A | Iran recognized South Sudan on 16 July 2011. |
| Japan | 9 July 2011 | Japan recognized and established diplomatic relations with South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Jordan | Before 1 March 2015 | Jordan recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Kazakhstan | N/A | Kazakhstan recognized South Sudan on 15 July 2011. |
| Kuwait | 12 February 2013 | |
| Kyrgyzstan | N/A | Kyrgyzstan recognized South Sudan on 14 July 2011. |
| Laos | N/A | Laos recognized South Sudan on 26 December 2011. |
| Lebanon | 23 May 2014 | Lebanon recognized South Sudan on 18 July 2011. |
| Malaysia | 20 March 2024 |
| Maldives | 4 May 2023 | Maldives recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Mongolia | 20 December 2011 | |
| Nepal | 28 March 2022 | |
| North Korea | 18 November 2011 | North Korea recognized South Sudan on 15 July 2011. |
| Oman | 11 June 2013 | |
| Pakistan | 4 June 2012 | Pakistan recognized South Sudan on 22 July 2011. |
| Philippines | 13 March 2013 | The Philippines recognized South Sudan on 1 August 2011. |
| Qatar | 10 September 2020 | Qatar recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011 |
| Saudi Arabia | Before 3 December 2013 | Saudi Arabia recognized South Sudan on 11 July 2011 |
| Singapore | N/A | Singapore recognized South Sudan on 14 July 2011. |
| South Korea | 9 July 2011 | South Korea recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011 |
| Sri Lanka | 25 September 2013 | |
| Thailand | 12 December 2013 | Thailand recognized South Sudan on 6 September 2011. |
| Timor-Leste | 13 October 2011 | |
| Turkey | 2011 | Turkey recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
| Turkmenistan | 17 August 2012 | |
| United Arab Emirates | Before April 2019 | The United Arab Emirates recognized South Sudan on 11 July 2011. |
| Vietnam | 21 February 2019 | Vietnam recognized South Sudan on 10 July 2011. |
| Yemen | N/A | Yemen recognized South Sudan on 9 October 2011. |

### Bangladesh

Bangladesh recognizes the independence of South Sudan on 20 July 2011.

### China

China recognizes the independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.

### India

India recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011

### Israel

Relations between the two states commenced with Israel's recognition of South Sudan a day after its independence and South Sudan announcing the following week its intention to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. On 28 July 2011, it was announced that full diplomatic ties had been established between the two countries. This was considered a significant boon to Israel, as Sudan did not have diplomatic relations with Israel and did not recognize Israeli sovereignty. This changed under the Israel–Sudan normalization agreement.
Economic ties show the most potential. As of 23 July 2011, several Israeli companies are already in talks for various business deals. Israel is host to thousands of refugees from South Sudan, who are now ready to return to their native country.

### South Korea

The Republic of Korea government is providing for the South Korean military to South Sudan in UN Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan.

### Turkey

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2012
* South Sudan has an embassy in Ankara.
* Turkey has an embassy in Juba.
* Trade volume between the two countries was US$3.2 million in 2019.

## Europe
### Denmark

First ambassador of South Sudan to Denmark presented his credentials to Denmark in 2016.

### United Kingdom

See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
South Sudan established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 July 2011.
* South Sudan maintains an embassy in London.
* The United Kingdom is accredited to South Sudan through its embassy in Juba.
The UK governed South Sudan from 1899 to 1956, when Sudan achieved full independence.
Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership.

## Oceania

| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
| Australia | 24 September 2011 | Australia recognized South Sudan on 9 July 2011. Australia is represented in South Sudan through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| Fiji | 25 September 2012 | Fiji is represented in South Sudan through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| Vanuatu | N/A | Vanuatu recognized South Sudan on 28 September 2011. |

## South Sudan and the Commonwealth of Nations

See also; South Sudan and the Commonwealth of Nations
In 2011, South Sudan applied for full membership of the Commonwealth. If and when it is accepted, South Sudan will become the newest republic in the Commonwealth of Nations.