South Sudan has launched a pivotal six-day technical assistance workshop in Juba, focusing on the Abuja Safety Targets a set of aviation safety standards endorsed by the African Union to enhance air transport safety across the continent.
The workshop is organized by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) under the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) program.
Speaking during the opening session, Johnson Marun, Director and State Safety Program Coordinator of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA), emphasized the country’s commitment to implementing the workshop’s roadmap.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would address technical challenges and foster deeper cooperation among regional institutions, paving the way for a safer and more harmonized air transport system in the region.
Meanwhile Dr. Zacharia Kingori, Senior Transport Economist at COMESA, acknowledged the challenges in implementing the Abuja Safety Targets in the East African region, with an overall implementation rate of 46%.
“The implementation of the Abuja Safety Targets in the East African region faces challenges, with an overall implementation rate of 46%.”
He highlighted that while progress has been made, particularly in Effective Implementation (EI) among Partner States, certain targets, especially those related to Air Navigation Services (ANS), are still lagging behind.
Dr. Kingori urged government representatives, aviation professionals, and other stakeholders to utilize this workshop as a platform for dialogue and the development of practical plans to achieve South Sudan’s Abuja Safety Targets.
Paul Christian Rwegasha, Principal Civil Aviation Officer at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, underscored the importance of the Abuja Safety Targets in supporting aviation safety and compliance within the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) region.
He noted that participants are expected to develop a comprehensive roadmap outlining the steps SSCAA should take to implement these safety targets.
According to him, the workshop is part of a broader effort to integrate South Sudan into the EAC’s aviation activities, including aligning national aviation laws with international standards, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and building institutional capacity.
“The workshop is to raise awareness about the Abuja Safety Targets, a set of safety compliance standards to enhance air transport safety across the continent.”
By adopting the Abuja Safety Targets, South Sudan aims to improve its aviation safety performance, increase stakeholder confidence, and foster regional cooperation in air transport.
The collaborative efforts are aligned with the goal of operationalizing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), strengthening the regulatory and institutional capacity of civil aviation institutions, and improving air navigation efficiency across the region.
This initiative underscores the critical role of aviation safety in regional integration, trade, economic growth, and sustainable development.
