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South Sudan ready to reclaim airspace control from Khartoum

President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit. (AFP)

By Amina Wako | 04 Apr 2024

This milestone comes after China Harbor Engineering Company (Chec) completed the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS).

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir announced on Wednesday that the country is on the brink of reclaiming control of its sovereign airspace from neighbouring Sudan. This milestone comes after China Harbor Engineering Company (Chec) completed the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS).

Speaking at the reopening ceremony of the national parliament in the capital, Juba, President Kiir declared, "Taking full control of our airspace will enable our country to register airlines as well as collect fees."

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The ATMS project, initiated in July 2020 and completed in December 2023, marks a crucial step towards independence in managing South Sudan's airspace.

President Kiir emphasised the significance of this achievement, highlighting the opportunities it presents for the nation's aviation sector.

The ATMS, a collaboration between South Sudan and China, encompasses various components, including infrastructure development and the training of local technicians.

This comprehensive project includes the construction of the Juba ATMS centre, air traffic control tower, surveillance and navigation systems, communication infrastructure, and necessary civil engineering facilities.

Under an agreement signed in 2016 with Sudan through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), South Sudan embarked on a path to assume control of its airspace.

This agreement stipulated that after appropriate training and the acquisition of a qualified workforce, Juba would oversee its airspace territory, enabling the collection of fees from all aircraft utilising the airspace.