The Office of the President says it is still not in a position to purchase a Presidential jet to facilitate international and local travels of the President.
It says the cost of one jet is more than 50 million U.S dollars, which cannot currently be removed from the country’s budget.
Since 2005, President Salva Kiir and government officials have been using chartered planes to go on official trips.
The Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Eye Radio’s Dawn Program that the Presidency has not prioritized buying of a Presidential jet.
“He [Kiir] cannot approve to have a Presidential jet in place now during this crisis, but it is a plan that will come,” said Mr Ateny.
In 2010, the government purchased a turboprop type of plane, bearing South Sudan flag at the tail and wings, for its administrative work.
In the same year, the SPLA finalized an agreement to purchase 10 military transport helicopters from a Russian company at a total cost of 75 million U.S Dollars.
Last year, the South Supreme Airlines, which is partnered with International Charter Services of the United Arab Emirates, became the first locally owned airlines to offer international and domestic services.
is good to buy a plane but this is not a right time when there is a criris going on in the country
if this money there better our gorvermeny to build some additional schools which we have now in the country
It is good ideal, but let it be not now I saw soldiers had not been paid since January, and they are the very victims whom they are protecting this mess in the country, other wise they change their minds to think of cultivation rather of dying.