JUBA: Egypt recognized the state of South Sudan on Saturday after its split from the north, Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi said.
Egypt has watched the split warily. It depends on the Nile’s water to survive and the creation of South Sudan adds a new state on that river. East African states have argued to review colonial-era quotas for the use of Nile water.
El-Orabi was speaking after his arrival in Juba, the south’s capital, the official Egyptian news agency MENA reported.
Egypt’s support for the new state follows that of the Khartoum-based government of Sudan, which was the first to recognize South Sudan on Friday, a few hours before it formally became a new country at midnight.
The Cairo-based Arab League said South Sudan had the right to join the league, Egypt’s state television reported.
