Switzerland has formally recognised the Republic of South Sudan, which declared independence from the north on Saturday.
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“After consultations with the foreign policy committees of the two chambers (of Parliament) the government has decided to recognise South Sudan as an independent state,” the government said in a statement.
A Swiss government representative present at independence celebrations in the South Sudanese capital of Juba on Saturday, said Switzerland would begin the process of establishing diplomatic and consular relations with the new country.
After years of civil war, southern Sudanese people voted overwhelmingly in a referendum in January to become independent from the north, permanently dividing Africa’s largest country in two.
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