South Sudan Ends Airspace Dependence on Khartoum.. and Officially Submits the “Juba Region” File to ICAO Juba – South Sudan (June 29, 2026) – Radio Nova-Ishag Idris

Juba – South Sudan (June 29, 2026) – Radio Nova-Ishag Idris

In a strategic development that reshapes the air navigation map in East Africa, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) has submitted an official proposal to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to amend regional air navigation plans, by terminating the regulatory link of the Republic of South Sudan’s airspace with the Khartoum Center, and replacing it with the adoption of the “Juba Flight Information Region” (Juba FIR) as an independent entity.

This demand represents a qualitative leap whereby responsibility for managing and regulating all civil aviation traffic will be transferred entirely to national authorities, thereby consolidating the State’s full sovereignty over its airspace within the framework of compliance with international standards, and ending decades of administrative dependence on Khartoum in this vital file.

The submission of the file comes as the fruit of accumulated and sustained technical work over the course of years, based on meticulous coordination with neighboring countries to ensure the continuity and smooth flow of air traffic, alongside direct support from the central government and the Civil Aviation Authority, with technical oversight from ICAO, in addition to crucial contributions from regional and international partners who contributed to shaping this independent airspace entity.

Concurrently with the proposed amendment, the adoption of the “Juba Search and Rescue Region” (SRR) was approved, as part of the new system, as it is expected to enhance emergency response readiness, raise air traffic services efficiency, and improve operational safety levels in full conformity with the latest global practices in aviation.

The Authority concluded its statement by commending all cadres and experts who contributed to the completion of this pivotal file, affirming that this step represents a pivotal turning point in the course of South Sudan’s active integration into the international civil aviation system, thereby enhancing its position as a State with full sovereignty in regional and global airspace.