JUBA-South Sudan’s Council of Ministers, in their regular meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday, approved $28,414,236 for airspace operationalization.
Since its independence in 2011, South Sudan’s airspace has been under Sudan’s control.
Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting in Juba, Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, and Postal Services, said they approved the funds for the operationalization of the Airspace Control Center.
“It is worth mentioning that up to this moment, the airspace is controlled from Sudan, and this was simply because we did not have the facilities for this. Now, facilities have been built, and we are left now with the handing over so that ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) can, after this, license us.” Makuei said.
He said the Ministry of Transport requested a sum of $28,414,236 to enable them to take over this facility.
“Of course, once this center is operationalized, it will serve us in terms of security because our airspace will be secure. It will also generate revenue because all these planes that pass over South Sudan, they all pay for the use of the airspace, but we have not been getting it. The Sudanese government has been taking it all this time.”
Lueth revealed that the center may generate a sum of $35,350,000 per annum since they will be charging all the planes operating in the country or passing througha the airspace.
