Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan on Thursday announced its intention to assume ownership of its sovereign upper airspace from Sudan after a Chinese firm completed the construction of the country’s Air Traffic Management System.
Speaking during inspection of the facility, Madur Biar Yel, the transport minister, said the infrastructure aimed at reclaiming South Sudan’s upper airspace has been put in place.
“Soon we are going to take over this facility from the contracting company, China Harbour; just a few connections are remaining, and very soon the facility is going to be complete,” he said.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, Ma Qiang, commended the efforts of the contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and the South Sudanese government for completing the project with high standards and quality.
“The project will help the South Sudanese government and the people take back the upper airspace management rights, achieving the integrity of airspace sovereignty, improving the safety of civil aviation in South Sudan, and creating very impressive non-oil revenue to ease the government’s financial pressure,” said Amb. Qiang.
On December 12, 2021, South Sudan reclaimed ownership of its sovereign lower airspace from Sudan.
In 2016, the government of South Sudan signed a three-year agreement with Sudan under the International Civil Aviation Organization to manage and control its airspace.
According to the agreement, South Sudan would take over the control of its airspace territory after training and acquiring a qualified workforce to oversee the system.
In September, the Sudanese committee managing the airspace was directed by the cabinet to continue its job until South Sudan is ready to assume the role.
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