South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Finance Minister Awow Daniel Chuong, just four months into his tenure, according to state-owned television. This marks the sixth finance ministerial change since 2020.
No reason was provided for Chuong’s dismissal, which occurred on Wednesday. Economist Marial Deng has been appointed as the new finance minister.
South Sudan’s economy has faced significant challenges in recent years due to communal violence and reduced crude oil revenue following the 2013-2018 civil war. Recent export disruptions caused by conflict in neighboring Sudan have exacerbated these issues.
In May, Central Bank Governor James Alic Garang stated that South Sudan’s foreign exchange reserves were at historic lows. The International Monetary Fund predicts consumer price inflation will reach 54.8% this year.
President Kiir has led South Sudan since its independence from Sudan in 2011. The country is scheduled to hold presidential, parliamentary, and regional elections in December.
