The Director General of the South Sudan Civil Aviation said the occupants had been given three months notice and a further 21 days notice, before the final 21 days, yet they have not moved

By Ajah Jennifer

The Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, John Woja Elinana, issued a final warning to individuals and businesses occupying land illegally at Juba International Airport, declaring that the government will now use force to clear the premises after multiple eviction deadlines were ignored.

“We gave them three months, then 21 days, again another 21 days… This time, we are not going to play. We are going to take action, and I mean my words,” Elinana said during a press briefing on Thursday.

The statement marks a sharp turning point in the ongoing standoff between the Civil Aviation Authority and container-based businesses and informal residents on airport grounds.

According to Elinana, the clearance of land is part of a broader plan to modernize and expand Juba International Airport, which is currently operating below international standards due in part to lack of space and unregulated activities.

“We want to build. We want to modernize the airport. We want to beautify the airport so that when people come, they will see that indeed our airport is international.”

He explained that the cleared space would be used to relocate aircraft parked on taxiways, enabling more flights and smoother ground operations.

Elinana emphasized that the affected individuals and businesses settled on strategic aviation land without authorization, and that their continued presence is obstructing planned upgrades and expansion of the country’s main international airport.

“Anybody residing within airport land, and you came here illegally, you must leave. If you don’t comply, we will evict you by force,” he said.

While acknowledging that some businesses had official contracts in the past and are being offered relocation support, Elinana drew a hard line against those who arrived without formal approval.

“Those who have a contract with us  like the houses that we demolished we relocated them. But those who came illegally must go.”

The Director General advised legitimate businesses that need to continue operating in the vicinity, to move to Alpha House, a facility near the airport, available as an alternative location.

“We have Alpha House empty. We have encouraged them please, if you are doing business with us here, go and take a room. But we do not want to see containers here.”

The crackdown on illegal occupants is part of a wider push to strengthen airport security, access control, and compliance with international aviation regulations. New gate construction, complete with automated access systems and screening machines, is underway, while internal controls now limit entry to only authorized and uniformed personnel.

The Civil Aviation Authority has faced criticism in recent months for not enforcing previous eviction notices, but Elinana made it clear that no further grace period will be offered.

“We have formed a committee, and we are going to use force to ensure that they leave. This land belongs to the airport,” he said.

With modernization, security, and international reputation on the line, the Authority is poised to reclaim and redevelop its facilities with or without cooperation from current occupants.