South Sudan’s aviation sector recorded a series of infrastructure, regulatory and operational developments during June 2026, with activity spanning airport expansion, personnel licensing, aeronautical information management, air navigation services oversight and the continued development of Juba International Airport’s Terminal 3.
The month opened with the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of Wau Airport, led by the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rizik Zakaria Hassan. The delegation included the Undersecretary of Transport, Hon. Paul Dhel Gum, the Director General of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Ayiei Garang Deng Ayiei, and officials from Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The Wau Airport project covers the construction of a modern passenger terminal and an air traffic control tower. Once completed, the facilities are expected to support improved air transport services, safer operations and stronger regional connectivity. GS Construction Company has committed to completing the works within eight months.
The development forms part of a broader effort to upgrade aviation infrastructure beyond Juba, with Wau positioned as an important regional air transport node. Stakeholders at the ceremony linked the project to government efforts to modernise the transport sector and expand access to improved air services across South Sudan.
Regulatory capacity also advanced during the month, with the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announcing the establishment of an aviation personnel licensing system in the country. The first cohort of South Sudanese air traffic controllers has completed 12 months of training at the East African School of Aviation and were scheduled to begin licensing examinations shortly.
The examinations are being conducted in accordance with the South Sudan Civil Aviation Regulations 2026. Successful candidates will be licensed to provide air traffic services within South Sudan’s sovereign airspace, marking an important step in strengthening national oversight capability.
The licensing system is expected to support progressive issuance of South Sudanese aviation personnel licences over the coming months. This is particularly significant for the country’s compliance framework, including alignment with ICAO Annex 1 and ICAO Critical Element 6 requirements.
The Authority’s leadership has been working with partners to establish the systems, regulations and procedures needed for personnel certification and licensing.
Aviation modernisation also featured in a broader transport sector briefing to the President of the Republic, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, on 17 June 2026. Minister Rizik Zakaria Hassan and Undersecretary Paul Dhel Gum briefed the President on major transport infrastructure and development projects, with the discussion highlighting efforts to improve connectivity, safety, efficiency and service delivery.
During the same period, Cabinet approved the National Transport Policy Framework presented by the Minister of Transport. The framework is intended to guide the development, regulation and modernisation of South Sudan’s transport sector, with a focus on improved connectivity, stronger safety standards and economic growth. The approved framework will now proceed through the required legislative processes.
In a separate mid-June development, CGX AERO announced a new five-year collaboration with the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority to support the modernisation of the country’s aeronautical information services and operational capabilities.
The programme brings together several areas of technical work, including AIM system implementation and hosting, aeronautical data digitalisation, eAIP production and maintenance, flight procedure reviews, aeronautical chart updates and obstacle impact assessments across several airports. Training, knowledge transfer and operational support are also included in the collaboration.
The project is significant because aeronautical information management is not a standalone technical function. Safe and efficient air navigation depends on reliable data, updated procedures, accurate publications, trained personnel and operational systems that can be maintained over time. The collaboration adds an important capacity-building dimension to South Sudan’s wider aviation modernisation effort.
Operational oversight continued at an airport level, with an SSCAA team deployed to Malakal Airport to assess aviation facilities and equipment. The visit formed part of the Authority’s follow-up and inspection activities. The team assessed the operational status of the radar station and other critical aviation equipment to confirm functionality, safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Juba International Airport remained a central focus of national aviation development. On 21 June 2026, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority reported major progress on Terminal 3, ahead of its planned official opening on 9 July 2026, coinciding with South Sudan’s Independence Day celebrations.
Terminal 3 is expected to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of air services for passengers, airlines and partners. Once opened, the new terminal is expected to enhance airport operations, support increased passenger movement and contribute to broader economic development and regional connectivity.
The project also carries symbolic weight. Opening the terminal on Independence Day positions the development as both an aviation milestone and a national infrastructure achievement, reinforcing Juba International Airport’s role as South Sudan’s principal international gateway.
