President Salva Kiir. (Photo: PPU).

President Salva Kiir has said the country has now taken control of its airspace sovereignty after launching a new Airspace Traffic Management System.

Kiir made the remarks while commissioning a modern Airspace Traffic Management System and Control Tower aimed at enhancing safer, modern and independent air traffic operations across the country.

The President said the launch of the system marks the beginning of South Sudan’s management of its own airspace.

He directed the Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant institutions to ensure the airspace system operates efficiently without interruption, saying the country cannot afford any failure of the system.

“We have reclaimed over sovereignty by taking control of our air space. From today onwards, our air space is in our hands. I am directing that this system works without interruption. We cannot afford to fail this system so that the control of our airspace is maintained,” he said.

Previously, South Sudan’s airspace and air traffic were managed by Sudan from Khartoum, relying heavily on foreign aid agencies, including the United Nations, and manual non-radar procedures.

The new system will allow the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority to manage air traffic operations through the Air Traffic Management system and control tower, improving air navigation, safety and efficiency in the country’s aviation sector.