By Philip Buda Ladu
Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has passed the South Sudan Civil Aviation Act 2012 (Amendment Bill 2024) to develop and strengthen the existing civil aviation legal framework.
The Bill was first table before the parliament in December 2023 by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ruben Madol Arol. It was then committed to the standing specialized committee of Transport and that of Legislation and Justice to scrutinize the Bill.
The Bill is to provide a regulatory framework to develop and regulate the civil aviation industry and to provide a system for assuring aviation safety.
Following their scrutiny, the committee presented their joint report to the August House for deliberations in its second reading stages.
The Amendment Bill 2024 provides for the conformity of the Civil Aviation Act 2012 with constitutional, legal, and political guiding principles, objectives, and ideas in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011 as amended.
It is drafted in accordance with Article 142 read together with the provisions of Schedule (A), paragraphs 12 and 27 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended.
Hon. Peter Makuoth Malual, the Acting Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Transport, tabled the bill in its third, fourth, and final reading stages during Monday’s assembly sitting No. 43/2024.
“The purpose of this bill is to provide a regulatory framework for the Civil Aviation Authority in South Sudan to establish a financial and administrative autonomous institution to supervise, promote, develop, and regulate the civil aviation industry,” Makuoth said.
He added that the amended bill also provides a system for ensuring the safety and security of airspace, aerodromes, and airstrips and compliance with aviation and international best practices.
After thorough deliberation, the August House passed the bill from the third to fourth and final reading stages chapter by chapter with all the observations, recommendations, and amendments incorporated.
This bill, which is bound to become an act just awaiting the president’s signature within 30 days, will empower the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority to regulate the aviation sector’s safety and security.
The bill gives the Civil Aviation Authority autonomous responsibility to supervise, promote, and ensure the safety and security of the country’s airspace.