April 09, 2012 (JUBA) –  South Sudan Minister of Transport, Agnes Poni Lukudu, in a press conference held yesterday in South Sudan Hotel in Dr. John Garang Hall during the Easter holiday told the media houses that the government had received a letter from Khartoum which stopped flights between Juba and Khartoum effective from 9th April, 2012.

Agnes said, the letter was written on 1st April, 2012 but they received it on 6th of this month in an illegal way. The Minister said officially the letter should have been channeled through the South Sudan Foreign Ministry but strangely she found delivered to her office only to find that it was from Sudan. The contents of the letter are as follows:

1. On the 6 March 2012, The Civil Aviation Authority of Republic of Sudan published a circular, outlining clearly that there will be no flights between the two countries from 9 of April, 2012 until, when the two countries agree to operate their flights in accordance with international air operations. The circular also stated that all passengers moving between the countries will be treated in accordance with immigration and customs rules.
2. On the 11 of March 2012 the Civil Aviation Authority further wrote to all airlines operating between the two countries that as of 0100 hours, all air operations to and from South Sudan will be officially classified and treated as international air operations with all attending issues fully implemented.
3. In the absence of an agreement between the two countries, all air operations from Khartoum and other towns of Sudan will not be allowed to land in airports of the Republic of South Sudan as of 0100 hours of the 9th of April 2012 at the same time no air operations emanating from the RSS will be allowed to land in the airport of Sudan. This situation will remain in force until the two countries agree to have air operations between themselves.
4. The purpose of this statement is to inform the general public and air travelers in the RSS that from Monday 9 of April 2012, until when an agreement is reached between the two countries on air operations there will be no flights between the two countries. Thus travelers from South Sudan to Sudan should find alternative routes.
5. All Sudanese nationals leaving and arriving South Sudan airports and river ports will be subjected to the South Sudanese and customs rules.
6. Finally the Khartoum will be responsible for any inconvenience caused as a result of unilateral decision by it to stop flights between South Sudan and Sudan.