South Sudan to open new Juba airport terminal on Independence Day

JUBA — South Sudan’s Juba International Airport will officially open its new Terminal 3 on July 9, 2026, a move aimed at boosting passenger capacity and cutting down chronic congestion at the country’s primary air hub.

The launch is intentionally timed to coincide with South Sudan’s Independence Day celebrations, according to airport officials. Known locally as the ROCO terminal, the structure has been a long-delayed priority for the country’s aviation infrastructure, with initial layout phases stretching back over a decade.

Capt. Amel Ajongo Mawut, Managing Director of Juba International Airport, confirmed the July timeline during a press briefing on Sunday, noting that internal and external structural work is nearly finalized.

“We have come far at almost completing the ROCO terminal, which is Terminal 3,” Mawut said. “This will really put South Sudan out there on the map. We will have more flights and new airlines coming to the country, which will be a plus for us and for the aviation industry.”

Mawut credited the progress to close coordination with Civil Aviation Authority Director General Dr. Ayiei Garang and Airport Director Capt. Dau Majok.

The push to wrap up the project follows a renewed construction phase that began in February 2026. GS Construction Company Limited, the firm contracted to execute the remaining engineering, structural, and mechanical installations, stated that crews have been deployed on 24-hour shifts to hit the July 9 target.

“In the last three and four months, the project has been started, and we are working together to complete this project,” said Eng. Gizaw Birhannu, Project Manager for GS Construction. “Most of the terminal, especially the internal and external part of the building, is already done. The workers are working day and night to complete the project before July.”

Juba International Airport serves as the primary aerial gateway for South Sudan’s commercial sector, government travel, and regional diplomacy. Critically, it serves as the logistics backbone for United Nations peace operations and international humanitarian missions delivering aid across the landlocked country.

While a smaller passenger terminal opened in late 2018 provided temporary relief, rising international traffic frequently overwhelmed its processing gates.

Aviation authorities state that Terminal 3 will expand immigration processing areas, streamline domestic and international separations, and establish a more reliable transit infrastructure capable of attracting new international carriers to Juba