South Sudan Airline Owner Threatens ICC Over $1bn Debt
The owner of dormant South Sudan Supreme Airlines has warned he may take the South Sudanese government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over an alleged unpaid debt of USD1.05 billion, according to the Tanzania Times.
Ayii Duang Ayii claims the now-defunct airline provided transport and logistics services to the government for years without payment. He also alleges that its subsidiary, South Supreme Foods, supplied subsidised food commodities and fuel products to government institutions in Juba.
South Sudan Supreme Airlines, previously known as South Supreme Airlines, began operations in 2013 under the name Feeder Airlines. Based at Juba, it operated domestic and regional services using a Boeing 737-300, a CRJ100 wet-leased from Gambia’s Jupiter Airlines, a Fokker 50, and a Let 410.
The carrier struggled with operational and safety challenges, suspending operations in 2015 due to economic difficulties before later resuming. In 2021, a fatal Let 410 crash led to a government-ordered suspension of its Air Operator Certificate.
Ayii was arrested in 2023 for allegedly failing to pay compensation to families of the 2021 crash victims, according to Netherlands-based broadcaster Radio Tamazuj. The airline had also been involved in a 2017 accident that destroyed an An-26 in Wau.
The ICC threat marks the latest escalation in Ayii’s long-running dispute with the government, as he seeks repayment for what he claims are outstanding debts from years of aviation and supply operations. The South Sudanese authorities have yet to respond publicly to his allegations.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com