South Sudan, Ethiopian Airlines Renew Strategic Partnership Talks on National Carrier

(JUBA) South Sudan and Ethiopian Airlines moved to the next stage of their strategic partnership in late August 2025, reviving a plan to launch a new national carrier while linking aviation reforms to a wider trade agenda spanning Ethiopia and Djibouti.

In a meeting on August 27, 2025, President Salva Kiir received Ethiopian Finance Minister and Special Envoy Ahmed Shide Mohammed in Juba. Both sides reaffirmed Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred partner and discussed how the airline’s network could help open new regional trade corridors.

A week earlier, on August 20, 2025, South Sudan and Djibouti signed an agreement to build river and dry ports in Juba, Bor, and Renk under the White Nile Corridor plan. The aim is to give landlocked South Sudan direct access to the Port of Djibouti and improve logistics for cargo and passengers.

Joint-venture airline: structure and roles

The renewed talks center on a joint-venture airline under a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that specifies an ownership split of 49% for Ethiopian Airlines and 51% for South Sudan. Officials say this arrangement:

• Keeps legal and political control in Juba,
• Draws on the operational strength and training pipeline of Africa’s largest carrier,
• Provides technical support, management, and training for South Sudanese personnel,
• Assists national authorities as airspace management shifts from Sudan to South Sudan.

Ethiopian Airlines will provide technical and management support, and help certify crews and systems as local teams train up.

Legal and regulatory groundwork

The legal foundation is already under way. In 2024, Parliament passed the Civil Aviation Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, which:

• Consolidated aviation rules,
• Created a clearer path to certify aircraft and license crews,
• Strengthened supervision of safety and oversight,
• Laid an administrative backbone for transitioning the airline project from plan to practice.

Aviation officials describe these amendments as critical for improving oversight after years of fragmented regulation.

Political messaging and stakeholder positions

Key messages from officials are consistent:

• President Salva Kiir frames Ethiopian Airlines as a strategic partner to modernize South Sudan’s aviation sector and connect the country to regional and international markets.
• Special Envoy Ahmed Shide Mohammed, conveying a message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to deeper ties and continued support.
• Former Transport Minister Madut Biar Yel emphasized training and management transfer, a point many local aviation professionals view as essential to building domestic skills rather than depending indefinitely on outside contractors.

If South Sudan can anchor a reliable airline to a credible regulatory system and a workable trade corridor, it can reduce dependence on neighboring hubs for essential travel and freight.

Regional trade and logistics: the White Nile Corridor link

Analysts say the timing reflects a regional pivot toward practical trade links. The White Nile Corridor plan combined with the airline project aims to:

• Align air, river, and road logistics,
• Reduce shipping and travel costs,
• Shorten delivery times,
• Make travel simpler for business travelers, aid workers, students, and families.

VisaVerge.com reports that, if executed, this approach could reshape mobility patterns to and from South Sudan by creating steadier schedules and more predictable connections for cross-border workers and students.

Airspace transition and safety implications

A major practical element is airspace control. South Sudan’s air traffic services have been transitioning away from Sudanese oversight. Under the current plan:

• Ethiopian Airlines will support the move toward full national control,
• Local teams will receive training in air traffic services,
• Clear responsibility for routing, fees, and safety alerts should improve planning and reduce delays caused by coordination gaps.

Security remains an important consideration. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) continues to advise that flights over South Sudan at or below FL250 be avoided due to ongoing risks, though the situation is gradually stabilizing. Airlines typically incorporate these advisories into flight planning and may route aircraft at higher altitudes when needed.

Policymakers argue that the 2024 law’s stronger oversight, combined with step-by-step airspace control, will enhance risk management and safety reporting.

Policy context and official status (as of September 1, 2025)

The strategic partnership with Ethiopian Airlines remains active under the 2023 MoU, reaffirmed in August 2025 meetings. The planned ownership split—51% for South Sudan, 49% for Ethiopian Airlines—matches governance models used in other regional partnerships.

Implementation steps outlined by officials include:

1. Technical support, management, and staff training from Ethiopian Airlines
2. Phased transition of airspace management from Sudan to South Sudan
3. Infrastructure development tied to the White Nile Corridor and new ports
4. Continued regulatory reform under the 2024 amendment to strengthen oversight

Aviation experts view this approach as practical for a young state lacking a national carrier, enabling operations while building local capacity. Regional analysts note potential economic upsides: a functioning airline linked to improved ports can support trade growth, tourism, and humanitarian access. Security analysts caution that flight-level routing and careful risk management remain necessary under international advisories.

For official information on safety oversight and air navigation changes, travelers and operators can consult the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority at the government’s website: South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority. Authorities say the site will publish notices, regulatory updates, and contacts as the airspace transition and national carrier plans advance.

What this means for travelers and workers

Although the national carrier has not yet launched flights, the developments underway have practical implications:

• Business travelers: Access to Ethiopian Airlines’ network could reduce connection times to major African, Middle Eastern, and European destinations, lowering travel costs and reducing missed meetings.
• Students and families: More consistent schedules can reduce missed exams and help families plan travel around school terms.
• Cross-border workers: Clearer schedules and regional ties may support more stable work rotations.
• Humanitarian and health travel: Aid operations and medical referrals benefit from reliable airlift; a national carrier connected to a larger network can help secure seats in emergencies.

Travelers should remain mindful of current security advisories. Carriers may route aircraft at higher altitudes or adjust schedules; passengers should monitor airline notices and allow extra time for changes.

Infrastructure, training, and procedural sequence

The White Nile Corridor—if realized—adds a multimodal logistics layer supporting the airline. River and dry ports in Juba, Bor, and Renk could streamline transfers between air, road, and river transport, lowering trade costs and shortening travel times for commercial, humanitarian, and family movement.

Officials describe the 2024 aviation law amendment as the guardrail for these plans. Stronger regulation enables authorities to:

• Certify aircraft,
• Monitor maintenance,
• Set and enforce training standards.

Ethiopian Airlines’ training role is central: cabin crew, mechanics, dispatchers, and managers will need standardized courses and supervised on-the-job experience to build a reliable operation.

Both governments say they are following this sequence:

1. Confirm the MoU commitments
2. Structure the joint venture
3. Align training and management support
4. Continue the airspace transition
5. Connect the airline rollout to corridor projects

Industry veterans note typical launch hurdles—aircraft acquisition, systems integration, and staffing—but say the involvement of an established operator reduces early-stage risk.

Historical context and urgency

Since independence in 2011, South Sudan has repeatedly tried to build a national carrier. Past efforts (2012–2014) failed amid instability. Parliament approved a plan in 2019 to establish South Sudan Airways and fund studies, but momentum revived only after the 2023 MoU and the 2024–2025 policy steps.

The current push ties the airline to real trade routes and a solid regulatory base, rather than treating it as a symbolic project.

For migrants and cross-border families, a scheduled flag carrier connected to Ethiopian Airlines’ network matters practically: it affects job acceptances with predictable rotations, students’ ability to enroll with confidence about returning home, and families’ capacity to manage emergency travel without multiple rebookings. Reliable air links also influence where applicants choose to work because predictable travel schedules make certain jobs feasible.

Short-, medium-, and long-term outlook

• Short term: Formalize the joint venture and continue infrastructure work.
• Medium term: Expand regional routes and complete the airspace transition.
• Long term: Develop South Sudan as a logistics and aviation hub anchored by the national carrier and strong ties with Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The clearest markers so far are the August 20 and August 27, 2025 meetings, the 49/51 ownership split, the Civil Aviation Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the ongoing EASA advisory on flight levels. Each element—political backing, corporate structure, rule of law, and operational safety—plays a distinct role in determining whether the strategic partnership becomes a functional airline that carries people and cargo daily, or remains another plan on paper.