UK appoints ambassador to Republic of South Sudan
By Toby Collins
July 10, 2011 (LONDON) – On 9 July the UK government appointed Alastair McPhail as ambassador to the newly independent Republic of South Sudan.
McPhail has been working as Consul General to South Sudan since March 2011. During the 2004-2005 period he was UK Special Representative for Sudan and during 2002-2004 Head of Sudan Unit in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The British diplomat attended every round of the negotiations on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement from the first session at Machakos to the final session at Naivasha.
He described the upgrading of the mission to an embassy as “a key step in strengthening the relationship between our two nations. I look forward to the years ahead”.
“We are committed to supporting the peaceful and prosperous development of the new country. We already make substantial contributions to the UN mission here, and UKAid, from the Department for International Development, provides a great deal of development support across a range of sectors,” said McPhail on his official blog.
The ambassador said the UK “will support South Sudan’s membership of the Commonwealth and other international organisations.”
However, he was keen to stress that, “the international community will help you but, as an independent country, the primary responsibility will be yours. Accept it – with enthusiasm. You have talented people and untapped resources. Use them. Your friends stand ready to do all we can. Let us.”
Nicholas Kay, who was previously responsible for South Sudan from the Khartoum embassy is now responsible for a significantly smaller country said on his blog that the UK is “ready for a new future in Sudan,” and described McPhail as his “excellent colleague in Juba”.
At the independence day celebrations the UK’s foreign secretary, William Hague, said the UK government stands with the people of South Sudan “as they seek a future of stability and prosperity” and will use its “enhanced diplomatic presence” to work alongside the South Sudanese people and to meet their aspirations.
By UN standards South Sudan will be one of the world’s poorest countries but it has an abundance of natural resources. Taking advantage of these resources and diplomacy to settle the remaining issues with North Sudan will be significant challenges facing the Republic of South Sudan for which the international community are in a position to offer much needed assistance.
(ST)
Bigcat
UK appoints ambassador to Republic of South Sudan
UK ambassador you are welcome to the RSS.welcome mr. mcphail. it is also your second home,but you remember in this country of south sudan.there is poor housing just tin-roof,water,road and sanitation the environment will be realy chalenging to you and your team. and hopefully it will change maybe soon or after some fews years.
we south sudan youth welcome UK to help young nation with almost everything from start for example new politicial,no ,poor army with no airforce, no trained health doctor no hospital,no better education.etc.