South Sudan to appoint ambassador to Zimbabwe

November 22, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan will soon appoint an ambassador to Zimbabwe, its foreign affairs minister told the country’s news agency, New Ziana.

The young nation attained independence in July 2011 after its citizens overwhelmingly voted for separation in a referendum necessitated by a 2005 peace deal. The accord ended over two decades of the bloody north-south civil war.

Since its independence, however, South Sudan had to appointed an ambassador to the South African country, and was being represented by its Charge d’Affaires.

“We have found a good person who knows our history, where we are coming from and where we are going”, Barnaba Marial Benjamin told New Ziana, adding that the new envoy will assume duties at the end of December.

The strong relations between Zimbabwe and South Sudan date back to the days when Juba was fighting for independence from Khartoum. Harare also played a key role in negotiations between the two Sudans during the north-south civil war.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean companies have been invited to attend the South Sudan investment conference to be held in the capital, Juba on December 4 and 5 this year.

(ST)