South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has made the decision to remove the finance minister from his position, despite only being in the role for four months. This marks the sixth replacement in the post since 2020, showing a lack of stability in the country’s economic leadership.
The ousted finance minister, Awow Daniel Chuong, was appointed in mid-March this year, but Kiir did not provide a reason for his dismissal. Economist Marial Deng has been selected to take over as finance minister in Chuong’s place.
South Sudan’s economy has been facing challenges in recent years, with communal violence and a decrease in crude oil export revenue contributing to financial strain. Central bank governor James Alic Garang noted in May that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at historically low levels.
The International Monetary Fund has projected consumer price inflation to reach a high of 54.8% this year, indicating further economic challenges for the nation. Kiir, who became South Sudan’s first president in 2011 following independence from Sudan, is gearing up for upcoming elections in December, which will see the election of a new president, members of parliament, and regional representatives.
The removal of the finance minister underscores the ongoing economic difficulties facing South Sudan and highlights the need for stable and effective leadership to address these challenges and steer the country towards a more prosperous future.
