The National Minister of Transport, Madut Biar, has asked the cabinet to approve the autonomy for the operation of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority.
The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) was officially formed in 2011 after independence and recognized by International Civil Aviation Organization as its 193rd member and key aviation player in accordance with the requirements and developments in the aviation sector locally, regionally and globally.
Lack of a proper road network makes air transport the most viable means of moving people and goods within most areas of South Sudan.
Addressing the media after the weekly Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority was established and has been operating through a presidential order and did not have the legal framework.
He revealed that the transport minister also requested the finance ministry to pay arrears of international organizations so that they can benefit from their services.
“So he (Madut Biar) requested the autonomy of the authority as it is all over the world and also he requested that the ministry of finance pays the arrears of the international organizations that are working with the ministry of transport and the authority, “Makuei said.
“There were three companies for which he requested their pay, and this was also approved. Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) wanted a sum of 567,750 US dollars, Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) 567,750 US dollars and Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) wanted a sum of 2,100,229 US dollars. This amount was approved and the minister of finance is directed to pay so that we can guarantee our participation in all these international organizations,” Makuei stressed.
“Because if you don’t pay, then definitely your membership will not be effective, you will not be in a position to participate and you will not even benefit from the services that they render to the new bodies,” he noted.
Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said the cabinet set up a committee comprising of Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Office of the President, South Sudan Civil Aviation, National Revenue Authority, one member from each of the companies to look into problems at present at the airport.
He said there are about three companies that are collecting revenues generated from the airport and the committee should look at how much the company’s demands from the government.
“The companies are three or four and this body actually looks into contracts that were involved at the airport and how much those companies collected, how much they need and how much have they collected, and what is their balance. All these have to be worked out, so the committee was approved to be set up and it is to report to the cabinet within one month from now,” Makuei explained.