Photo credit: MSN
According to officials from both countries, South Sudan and Ethiopia have reached a partnership agreement in which Addis Ababa will provide technical support to Juba in establishing and managing a national airline.
Eye Radio reports that a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 was revisited during a meeting between the Minister of Transport, Madut Biar, and Ethiopian Ambassador Nabil Mahdi in Juba on Thursday.
The collaboration follows a separate agreement that will allow Ethiopean aviation personnel to manage South Sudan’s airspace which the country is transitioning from Sudan ownership.
Biar said South Sudan will enjoy “significant” benefits from Ethiopia’s experience in airline management and operations. He said, “We discussed how South Sudan can benefit from Ethiopia airline when South Sudan establishes its airline after South Sudan took over the management and control of its airspace from Sudan.
“We will enter into a partnership with Ethiopia Airlines when we establish our airline for training and management, where we can benefit from this partnership.”
Boeing supplies most of the 134 aircraft in Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet, which is the largest airline in Africa.
The Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan confirmed the deal. He said, “Our discussion was based on key issues, including the operationalization of the MOU that was signed last year between the aviation authorities in the two countries.
“We are committed to expediting the operationalization and sharing the Ethiopian Airline experience as we all know, Ethiopia Airlines is the largest airline in Africa.”
