The pair met in Juba on Wednesday to discuss ways of deepening bilateral economic cooperation, with air transport and regional trade corridors high on the agenda. The talks highlighted Ethiopian Airlines as a proposed strategic partner to enhance South Sudan’s aviation sector, according to the Presidential Press Unit.
The discussions build on a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Juba and Addis Ababa that paved the way for Ethiopian Airlines to acquire a 49 percent stake in South Sudan’s planned national carrier.
The agreement, reported by Business Insider in November 2024, is grounded in the African Union’s Yamoussoukro Decision, which seeks to liberalize air transport services and promote fair competition among African airlines.
At the time of the signing, former Transport Minister Madut Biar Yel underscored the importance of the partnership, noting that Ethiopian Airlines would play a crucial role in training and management once South Sudan fully establishes its national airline and takes control of its airspace from Sudan.
The latest discussions seemingly reaffirmed this vision, with officials saying Ethiopian Airlines remains central to South Sudan’s efforts to build a modern and reliable aviation industry that can connect the country to regional and international markets. South Sudan has been without a national carrier since independence.
Kiir’s meeting with the Ethiopian envoy also explored the creation of a trade and transport corridor linking South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The proposed corridor is expected to ease the movement of goods, reduce the costs of regional commerce, and strengthen integration among the three countries. It would also give landlocked South Sudan direct access to the Port of Djibouti, a vital outlet for international trade.
On August 20, 2025, South Sudan and Djibouti signed an agreement to build river and dry ports in South Sudan, including locations like Juba, Bor, and Renk, as part of a White Nile Corridor development plan.
The initiative, involving the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), aims to enhance trade, boost logistics, and position South Sudan as a key regional logistics hub by providing access to Djibouti’s maritime infrastructure via a multimodal corridor.
