South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired his finance minister just three months after appointing him, in the latest cabinet reshuffle in a country battling chronic economic turmoil and political uncertainty.
A decree read out on state television late Monday announced the removal of Bak Barnaba Chol from the powerful finance docket without giving any reasons for the decision.
Chol had only been appointed in November, replacing Athian Diing Athian, who himself was dismissed barely two months after taking office.
Kiir named Salvatore Garang, an economist trained at the University of Khartoum, as the new finance minister. Garang previously served in the same role from 2018 to 2020, a period marked by sweeping but painful economic reforms and persistent fiscal strain in the oil-dependent nation.
The reshuffle means South Sudan has had nine finance ministers since 2020, underscoring instability at the heart of an administration struggling to stabilise public finances and restore investor confidence.
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South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, relies almost entirely on oil revenues to fund government operations. But recurring conflict, damage to oil infrastructure and fluctuations in global crude prices have battered state coffers.
Civil servants and members of the security forces have frequently complained of months-long salary delays, while the local currency has faced repeated bouts of depreciation, driving up the cost of basic goods in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Garang’s return to the finance ministry revives memories of his earlier tenure, when he oversaw attempts to unify exchange rates and improve revenue collection. However, his time in office was also clouded by controversy.
Local media previously reported allegations that Garang authorised the allocation of $100,000 in public funds to cover the cost of his son’s funeral. He has not publicly commented on the accusations, and no formal charges were announced at the time.
The latest decree also removed several other senior officials, including the commissioner general of the National Revenue Authority, as part of broader administrative changes.
Political analysts say Kiir has regularly reshuffled senior government and military officials as he seeks to maintain control in a fragile political environment.
The country emerged from a brutal five-year civil war in 2018 after Kiir and his longtime rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, signed a peace agreement aimed at ending a conflict that killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions.
Although the deal led to the formation of a unity government, key provisions — including security sector reforms and preparations for long-delayed elections — have progressed slowly.
Observers say frequent changes in key economic positions risk undermining policy continuity at a time when South Sudan faces mounting fiscal pressures.
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The government has struggled to diversify the economy beyond oil and broaden its domestic revenue base. Efforts to strengthen tax administration and curb corruption have yielded limited results, according to regional analysts.
International financial institutions have repeatedly urged Juba to improve transparency in public spending and ensure that oil revenues are channelled toward essential services and infrastructure.
Kiir, 74, has ruled South Sudan since independence and remains the dominant political figure. Speculation about succession has intensified in recent years, though no clear transition plan has been outlined.
Analysts say cabinet reshuffles serve both as a tool of political management and a signal to rival factions within the ruling elite.
“No official explanation was given for the change,” one Juba-based political analyst said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But frequent turnover at the finance ministry reflects deeper structural challenges facing the government.”
For many ordinary South Sudanese, however, the immediate concern remains the rising cost of living and uncertain prospects in a country still struggling to secure lasting peace and economic stability.
