Laws of South Sudan — Official Publication

South Sudan Civil Aviation
Authority Act

SSCAA Act, 2012 — (Amendment) Act, 2024  •  Signed into law by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan

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Year Enacted 2012 / Amended 2024
Total Chapters XI Chapters
Total Sections 99 Sections
Jurisdiction Republic of South Sudan
Legislative Purpose

Regulating Civil Aviation
in South Sudan

This Act establishes a financial and administratively autonomous Civil Aviation Authority to supervise, promote, develop and regulate civil aviation. It governs the safety and security of South Sudan's airspace, aerodromes, airstrips and compliance with international aviation standards and best practices under the Chicago Convention.

The 2024 Amendment modernises governance structures, introduces the Director General role, establishes the National Civil Aviation Administrative Review Tribunal, and strengthens enforcement and security oversight.

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XI Chapters
99 Sections
2 Schedules
62 Pages
Act Structure

Chapters & Sections

Browse each chapter of the Act. Download individual sections or view them directly.

Chapter I Sections 1 – 5

Preliminary Provisions

Title and commencement, repeal and savings, purpose, authority and application, and interpretation of key terms used throughout the Act.

§1 Title and Commencement ↓
§2 Repeal and Savings ↓
§3 Purpose ↓
§4 Authority and Application ↓
§5 Interpretation ↓
Chapter II Sections 6 – 10

Establishment & Functions of the Authority

Establishes the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority as an autonomous body corporate, sets its objectives, code of conduct, conflict of interest rules, and extensive powers and functions.

§6 Establishment of the Authority↓
§7 Objectives of the Authority↓
§8 Code of Conduct↓
§9 Conflict of Interest↓
§10 Powers and Functions↓
Chapter III Sections 11 – 31

Governance of the Authority

Board composition and tenure, eligibility, removal, powers of the Board, disclosure of interest, executive management, appointment of the Director General, inspectors, staff conditions, credentials, and asset declarations.

§11 – §12 Governing Structures & Board↓
§13 – §16 Composition, Tenure & Powers↓
§19 – §22 Executive Management & DG↓
§24 – §25 Inspectors & Aerodromes↓
§26 – §31 Staff, Credentials & Conduct↓
Chapter IV Sections 32 – 34

Powers & Functions of the Minister

Ministerial powers over the Authority's operations, international obligations under the Chicago Convention, and inspection and assessment of performance standards.

§32 Powers and Functions of the Minister↓
§33 International Obligations↓
§34 Inspection and Assessment↓
Chapter V Sections 35 – 39

Control Over South Sudan Airspace & Aerodromes

Full and exclusive control of South Sudan airspace, eligibility to operate aircraft, rules for use of aerodromes, and prohibition and restriction of flight routes.

§35 Air Space Control↓
§36 Use of South Sudan Airspace↓
§37 Eligibility to Operate Aircraft↓
§38 Use of Aerodromes↓
§39 Prohibition & Restriction of Flight↓
Chapter VI Section 40

Security

Designates the Civil Aviation Authority as the competent authority for civil aviation security, responsible for implementing national security programmes, aerodrome security, background checks, and coordination with security forces.

§40 Competent Authority↓
Chapter VII Section 41

Offences & Penalties

Prohibitions on operating aerodromes without authorisation, advertising on airport premises, obstructing aircraft movement, polluting airspace, and penalties for contraventions of the Act.

§41 Offences and Penalties↓
Chapter VIII Sections 42 – 51

National Civil Aviation Administrative Review Tribunal

Establishes the Tribunal with jurisdiction over licence disputes, fees, and authority decisions. Covers composition, proceedings, tenure, appeals to the High Court and Court of Appeal, powers, awards, and contempt.

§42 – §44 Establishment & Proceedings↓
§45 – §46 Tenure & Secretary↓
§47 – §48 High Court & Court of Appeal↓
§49 – §51 Powers, Awards & Contempt↓
Chapter IX Sections 52 – 63

Financial Provisions

Operational principles, financial year (1 July – 30 June), sources of funding including parliamentary allocations and grants, commercial ventures, bank accounts, business planning, borrowing, accounts, audit, annual reports, and aviation charges.

§52 – §54 Operational Principle & Funding↓
§55 – §58 Commercial & Borrowing↓
§59 – §61 Accounts & Annual Reports↓
§62 – §63 Charges, Fees & Revision↓
Chapter X Sections 64 – 89

General Provisions

Contracting out, facilities and services, air navigation authorisation, security control, investigation and enforcement powers, aircraft in distress, search and rescue, unmanned aircraft, aircraft piracy, dangerous flying, documents, and compounding of offences.

§64 – §68 Services & Enforcement↓
§69 – §71 Distress, SAR & UAV↓
§72 – §83 Safety, Piracy & Navigation↓
§84 – §89 Documents & Offences↓
Chapter XI Sections 90 – 99

Miscellaneous Provisions

Performance agreements (MOU), transfer of functions, exclusive powers, confidentiality, assumption of assets, environmental protection, transfer of liabilities, inventory, and regulations.

§90 – §92 Performance & Exclusive Powers↓
§93 – §95 Confidentiality & Environment↓
§96 – §99 Assets, Liabilities & Regulations↓
Schedules 2 Schedules

First & Second Schedules

First Schedule: Transfer of certain functions and duties for cross-border aircraft leasing and charter operations. Second Schedule: Provisions relating to meetings of the Board of Directors including quorum, voting, and minutes.

First Schedule — Transfer of Functions↓
Second Schedule — Board Meetings↓
Key Provisions

What the Act Covers

Airspace Sovereignty

Full and exclusive control over South Sudan's national airspace, with authority to restrict, prohibit or regulate all flight operations.

Safety & Security Oversight

Mandatory certification of aircraft, operators, maintenance organisations, training bodies and aerodromes. Comprehensive aviation security programme.

Autonomous Governance

Board of Directors chaired by a Presidential appointee, led by a Director General as CEO. Transparent competitive appointments with 35% women affirmative action.

Aerodrome Management

Licensing, certification, inspection and ongoing regulation of all aerodromes, airstrips and associated facilities throughout the Republic.

Air Navigation Services

Communication services, air traffic management, meteorological services, aeronautical information publications, navigational aids and search and rescue coordination.

International Compliance

Full integration with the Chicago Convention and ICAO standards. Authority to negotiate bilateral agreements and participate in international aviation bodies.

Unmanned Aircraft (UAV)

Regulation of all unmanned aircraft operations in South Sudan airspace requiring special authorisation and compliance with safety standards.

Review Tribunal

An independent National Civil Aviation Administrative Review Tribunal with jurisdiction over licence disputes, fees and directions. Appeals lie to the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Access the Full Legal Text

The complete South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority Act, 2012 (Amendment) Act, 2024 is available for download as an official PDF document.

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