The East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania, has scheduled a hearing for March 10, 2026, in a case against South Sudan’s government over its alleged failure to honour a USD1.05 billion settlement to South Sudan Supreme Airlines (Juba), according to media reports.
Court filings seen by ch-aviation (Case No. 16 OF 2025) show that the dormant carrier and Juba-based Pan African Law Chambers LLP allege that the government, through the Ministry of Finance and Planning, entered into a binding settlement agreement acknowledging the debt. The agreement required payment in 24 equal monthly instalments of about USD43.9 million beginning February 28, 2025, with a 10% advocate’s fee payable directly to the second applicant.
"Despite repeated demands, the respondent failed to honour any payments. The applicants contend that this failure breaches articles [...] of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community," the April 2025 filing states.
The hearing was initially set for October 30, 2025, but was postponed due to security concerns in Tanzania. It will now be heard next month before a five-judge panel at the Arusha-based court, reported Juba-based Eye Radio and Radio Tamazuj, a Netherlands-based news service focused on South Sudan.
The backstory
As previously reported, South Sudan Supreme Airlines owner Ayii Duang Ayii last year threatened to take the government to the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the alleged debt. He claimed the now-inactive airline, along with its subsidiary South Supreme Foods, provided transport, logistics, and subsidised food and fuel to government institutions without payment.
South Sudan Supreme Airlines, formerly South Supreme Airlines, began operations in 2013 as Feeder Airlines. Based at Juba, it operated throughout South Sudan, deploying a B737-300, a CRJ100 wet-leased from Gambia's Jupiter Airlines, a F50, and a Let 410.
The airline faced repeated operational and safety issues, suspending service in 2015 and again in 2021 after a fatal Let 410 crash.
