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Construction of a new control tower and passenger terminals at Wau Regional Airport is expected to be completed within seven to eight months, according to officials from the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority, and the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Government.

The project, being implemented by GS Construction Company, was officially launched on Saturday by the Minister of Transport, Rizik Zakaria Hassan, as part of efforts to upgrade Wau Airport to international standards and strengthen its role as an alternative aviation gateway in South Sudan.

Speaking during the inauguration, Hassan described the project as a strategic national priority and said the government would continue to provide institutional and logistical support to ensure its timely completion and successful operation.

The launch was accompanied by an inspection of air traffic management and radar facilities at the airport, where officials reviewed the status of critical aviation infrastructure.

Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Ayiei Garang Deng Ayiei, described the airport’s radar system as one of the country’s most valuable aviation assets and explained that its location was selected to ensure adequate coverage and minimize frequency interference.

“This is one of the primary radars that we have. It is one of the most valuable for civil aviation,” Dr. Ayiei said.

“We put it 10 minutes away from the city because of the coverage and the interference of frequency.”

Dr. Ayiei also expressed concern over increasing encroachment by nearby communities, warning that unauthorized activities around the facility could compromise its safety and functionality.

“The encroachment of the community toward the facilities of Civil Aviation is a concern we have put on the table of His Excellency the Governor,” he said.

He added that the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transport, and the state government were working together to ensure the protection of the installations.

Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Sharif Daniel Sharif, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the project, describing it as an important investment for both the state and the wider region.

“I am sure that this project will serve the state and the region as a whole,” the governor said.

Sharif disclosed that the state government had formed a committee to address encroachment on airport land and had given it 72 hours to clear affected areas.

“We have formed a committee and given them 72 hours to clear the land and surrounding areas of any encroachment on the airport land,” he said.

“We do not want any delays to this project for any reason.”

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Transport, Paul Dhel Gum, said the inspection was intended to assess the condition of the radar station and verify that adequate safety measures were in place to protect the equipment.

“We came purposely to check the radar station here to see how safe the equipment is and how functioning they are,” Dhel said.

He commended engineers and airport management for maintaining the facility and underscored the need to safeguard the infrastructure.

“It is a very important facility for us as a country, and it is our role to protect it,” he said.

The airport upgrade is expected to improve aviation services in Western Bahr el Ghazal and strengthen regional connectivity as South Sudan continues efforts to modernize its transport infrastructure.