South Sudan president fires finance minister after just 3 months in office

Garang previously served as finance minister from 2018 to 2020, a period marked by economic reforms and fiscal strains. During ⁠his ​first stint ⁠in the role, local media reported that Garang faced corruption allegations, including ⁠that he allocated $100,000 to cover the cost of his son's funeral.


Reuters | Juba | Updated: 24-02-2026 12:38 IST | Created: 24-02-2026 12:38 IST
South Sudan president fires finance minister after just 3 months in office
  • Country:
  • South Sudan

South Sudan President ​Salva Kiir fired Finance Minister ​Bak Barnaba Chol ‌in a ​reshuffle that was unveiled on state television on Monday evening. Chol was appointed ‌to the post in November after the president

fired Athian Diing Athian just two months after appointing him.

Kiir appointed Salvatore Garang, an ‌economist trained at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, as ‌the new finance minister. Garang previously served as finance minister from 2018 to 2020, a period marked by economic reforms and fiscal strains.

During ⁠his ​first stint ⁠in the role, local media reported that Garang faced corruption allegations, including ⁠that he allocated $100,000 to cover the cost of his son's funeral. ​He has not commented on the allegations. The decree also removed ⁠several other senior officials, including the commissioner general of the National ⁠Revenue Authority, ​as part of the broader administrative changes.

Analysts say Kiir regularly makes changes to ranks in the military and ⁠government to maintain control as he contends with armed conflict and ⁠speculation ⁠about his eventual succession. No reason was given for the ninth change in the finance minister ‌since 2020.

(Writing ‌by Vincent Mumo Nzilani; ​Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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