South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed Finance Minister Bak Barnaba Chol in a cabinet reshuffle announced on state television on Monday evening.
Chol, who was appointed to the position in November 2025, becomes the ninth person to hold the finance portfolio since 2020—following the abrupt removal of his predecessor, Athian Diing Athian, after just two months in office.
In his place, Kiir appointed Salvatore Garang, an economist trained at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. Garang previously served as Finance Minister from 2018 to 2020, a tenure marked by ambitious economic reforms amid severe fiscal challenges.
During that earlier stint, local media reported allegations of corruption against Garang, including claims that he allocated US$100,000 to cover funeral expenses for his son. He has never publicly responded to the accusations.
The decree also removed several other senior officials, including the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, as part of a wider administrative shake-up.
Analysts interpret the frequent changes at the finance ministry and across military and government ranks as a deliberate strategy by President Kiir to maintain tight control amid ongoing armed conflict, economic fragility, and persistent speculation about his eventual succession.
No official reason was provided for Chol’s removal or the broader reshuffle.
The latest move comes at a time when South Sudan continues to grapple with severe economic difficulties, including high inflation, currency depreciation, and heavy reliance on oil revenues amid global price volatility and internal instability.
