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South Sudan can’t buy presidential jet now

Author : | Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Office of the President says it is still not in a position to purchase a Presidential jet to facilitate international and local travels of the President.

It says the cost of one jet is more than 50 million U.S dollars, which cannot currently be removed from the country’s budget.

Since 2005, President Salva Kiir and government officials have been using chartered planes to go on official trips.

The Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Eye Radio’s Dawn Program that the Presidency has not prioritized buying of a Presidential jet.

“He [Kiir] cannot approve to have a Presidential jet in place now during this crisis, but it is a plan that will come,” said Mr Ateny.

In 2010, the government purchased a turboprop type of plane, bearing South Sudan flag at the tail and wings, for its administrative work.

In the same year, the SPLA finalized an agreement to purchase 10 military transport helicopters from a Russian company at a total cost of 75 million U.S Dollars.

Last year, the South Supreme Airlines, which is partnered with International Charter Services of the United Arab Emirates, became the first locally owned airlines to offer international and domestic services.

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