Saudi Arabia & UAE announce official recognition of South Sudan

July 11, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The governments of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Monday their recognition of South Sudan which was declared an independent state over the weekend.

The people of South Sudan voted overwhelmingly in favor of separating from the North in a referendum that was held last January in accordance with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

At the weekly cabinet meeting held today, Saudi Arabia said it welcomed the emergence of the new nation saying this “will contribute to the stability and security in that region besides realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people”.

UAE foreign ministry also issued a statement today saying it hopes that the declaration of the Republic of South Sudan “will open a new page in achieving security and stability to serve the interests of the peoples of the region”.

The ministry also expressed good wishes for the new republic, its leadership and the people for a prosperous and peaceful future. It asserted UAE’s keenness to bolster cooperation with South Sudan and to build close relations with that country in political, economic and social spheres.

Arab countries for the most part are uncomfortable with the idea of seeing a split in a fellow state amid growing suspicion that the West wants to balkanise countries in the region to weaken them.

There was minimal representation by Arab states at South Sudan independence ceremony. Saudi Arabia was represented by its intelligence director Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz.

(ST)