South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Finance Minister Awow Daniel Chuong from his position. Chuong had been in office for just four months, marking the sixth time the finance minister has been replaced since 2020. No specific reasons were provided for Chuong’s sudden dismissal.

In a related development, Kiir also replaced the head of the state-owned Nile Petroleum Corp., Bernard Amour Makeny, with no official explanation¹. The new Finance Minister is Marial Dongrin Ater, a former deputy commissioner general of the National Revenue Authority. Meanwhile, Mohamed Lino Benjamin, a former undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, has been appointed as the new managing director of Nilepet.

These changes come amidst continuous economic struggles in the oil-rich nation. South Sudan is set to hold presidential elections on December 22, the first since gaining independence from Sudan over a decade ago¹. The reshuffling of key positions raises questions about the country’s governance and economic stability.

As the nation grapples with challenges, observers are closely watching how the new appointees will address the pressing financial issues facing South Sudan.