After negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam failed to reach a clear agreement to reduce the potential negative effects on Egyptian water security, Cairo opted for strong political and technical moves to earn the trust of South Sudan. In addition to providing the new state with further support, Egypt hopes to secure its interests in the Nile's water, which comes from the equatorial lakes and passes through South Sudan’s territory.
Egypt had received the head of state of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Nov. 20, in his first visit to Cairo, during which a number of cooperation agreements were signed. Chief among these are the deals for the joint management of the Nile water between Cairo and Juba.