Aerial view of JIA | File photo

The level of security at Juba International Airport is not up to international standards, says the European Union Aviation Security Mission in South Sudan.

The mission says there are airlines that are interested in coming to Juba, but they cannot fly in until aviation security is improved.

The Deputy Head of Mission, Desmond Ross, told Eye Radio that the diplomatic protection service at Juba International Airport is out of date:

“The level of aviation security at Juba International Airport is not acceptable by international standard, it has not been since the country became independent, and it is still not acceptable at this point in time.”

JIA receives up to 40 both domestic and international flights daily, according to the airport authorities.

“South Sudan a landlocked country; you have to have good airport,” Mr. Ross added.

Mr. Desmond says once security is improved, Juba International Airport will attract more international airlines into the country.

He says the mission is currently training 50 police officers to help protect VIPs and maintain general security both inside the terminal and throughout the airport.

During the one-week basic training European specialists will work with the officers to ensure that they fully understand their duties.

The training is in line with a multi-million dollar EU project aimed at improving the standards of the airport.

In October last year, the European Union launched a 12.5 million US dollars funding support to capacitate the country’s aviation Authorities in order to improve Juba Airport to international standards.

The money was to be used to hire experts to provide South Sudanese with technical skills in the areas of security at Juba airport and state capitals in the country.

The project also includes extensions, creating car parks and installing a lighting system to allow the airport to function for 24 hours a day.