South Sudan has resumed negotiations with Ethiopia to finalize an aviation partnership that positions Ethiopian Airlines at the core of efforts to launch Juba’s long-anticipated national carrier.
According to birrmetrics, President Salva Kiir met Ethiopia’s Special Envoy and Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, in Juba on Wednesday to discuss the plan, alongside broader economic cooperation.
The South Sudanese presidency said aviation and regional trade corridors were high on the agenda, with Ethiopian Airlines identified as the preferred partner to provide training, technical support and management expertise once the new airline is launched and the country assumes full control of its airspace from Sudan.
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South Sudan has been without a flag carrier since independence. A memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between Addis Ababa and Juba set out terms for Ethiopian Airlines to acquire a 49 percent stake in the proposed airline. The arrangement was framed under the African Union’s Yamoussoukro Decision, which seeks to open Africa’s skies to greater competition and connectivity.
The meeting also reviewed plans to create a trade and transport corridor linking South Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The project is intended to cut logistics costs, improve the flow of goods, and give South Sudan direct access to the Port of Djibouti.
Earlier this month, Juba and Djibouti signed an agreement to construct river and dry ports in Juba, Bor and Renk as part of the White Nile Corridor plan. The initiative, led with the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, is designed to expand logistics capacity and connect South Sudan to international markets through Djibouti’s maritime infrastructure.
