By Philip Buda Ladu
Council of Ministers has declined to approve a budget proposal request worth 25.3 million US dollars for operation of Juba Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) control centre.
Minister of Transport, Madut Biar had tabled the request to the cabinet for approval in their regular meeting, on Friday, August 30, 2024, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Deputy National Minister of Information and Acting Government spokesman, Jacob Maiju Korok, briefed the media shortly after the meeting.
“The Minister of Transport presented a memo on a request for the cabinet to approve a fund for the operation of Juba Airspace Control Facilities to ensure the safety and efficiency of air transport in the country,” Korok told reporters on Friday.
“The total amount of money requested is 25.3 million US dollars,” he stated.
However, Korok underlined that the request was not approved by the cabinet but rather referred back to the two clusters of infrastructure and economics for review.
“The minister was actually advised that the memo be taken again to the infrastructure and economic clusters to be scrutinized, and then next Friday it could be tabled again at the council of ministers again for a final decision,” Korok emphasized.
Deputy Minister underscored that the country’s Airspace Control Center, which was constructed by a Chinese engineering firm, had been completed and awaiting operation.
Mr. Korok noted that the centre is complete; that’s why the minister of transport tabled the budget of 25.3 million in order to operationalize the facilities to be able to control “our airspace.”
“We are waiting for the memo to be approved” he added.
In April 2024, President Salva Kiir announced that the country is close to reclaiming control of its sovereign airspace from neighbouring Sudan, following the completion of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC).
The head of state highlighted that the air traffic management system, whose construction began in July 2020, was completed in December 2023 and is now ready for commissioning.
Kiir declared during the inauguration of the national parliament that the Ministry of Transport and the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority are in the process of taking over control of South Sudan’s territorial airspace from Sudan.
“Taking full control of our airspace will enable our country to register airlines as well as collect fees,” President Kiir emphasized in his address to parliament in April.
The Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project is a cooperation project between South Sudan and the Chinese government, which includes training South Sudanese technicians to prepare them for managing the airspace.
It also involves the construction of the Juba ATMS center, a new air traffic control tower and operation building, a surveillance system, a navigation system, and a communication system.
Furthermore, the civil engineering and supporting facilities required by the system, such as meteorological facilities, calibration flight tests, and personnel training are also part of the deal.
In 2016, South Sudan signed a three-year agreement with Sudan under the International Civil Aviation Organization to manage and control its airspace, after which Juba will reclaim control once it builds its infrastructure and technical workforce that is yet to happen.