South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed the country’s finance minister, state television said Monday, marking the eighth change in the position since 2020.
Kiir removed Athian Diing Athian under Republican Decree No. 381/2025, invoking Article 101(d) of the Constitution. No reason was given for the dismissal.
Athian, who had served for just over two months, will be replaced by Dr. Barnaba Baak Chol, who previously held the post between August 2023 and March 2024.
South Sudan’s economy has struggled in recent years amid communal violence and political instability, while oil revenues — the country’s main source of income — have fluctuated since war broke out in neighboring Sudan in April 2023.
The country is also facing severe cash shortages that have prompted commercial banks to limit daily withdrawals to 50,000 South Sudanese pounds per customer.
In a high-profile security change, Kiir dismissed National Security Advisor Madut Dut Yel and reappointed Tut Gatluak Manime to the post. Gatluak was removed in January 2025 after serving for nearly 11 years.
State-run media announced that Republican Decree No. 374/2025, issued under Article 101(f) of the Constitution, removed Yel from his duties. Under a separate decree, Kiir appointed Gatluak as the new presidential advisor on security affairs, reinstating one of his close allies to a position of influence.
Kiir also dismissed Ambassador Chol Mawut Ajongo as minister of presidential affairs. Ajongo, who was appointed in August 2024, was replaced by Africano Mande Gedima, the former head of the South Sudan Revenue Authority. Mande was dismissed from the revenue authority in November 2024 and previously served as governor of the now-defunct Maridi State.
The president further reshuffled his office staff, removing Amb. Ajiing Deng Ajiing as executive director in the office of the president and reappointing James Deng Wal to the post.
Kiir appointed Rita Kiden Lotua, a manager in the president’s office, as South Sudan’s ambassador to Rwanda.
At the Ministry of Petroleum, Engineer Deng Lual Wol was dismissed as undersecretary, and Engineer Dr. Chol Thon Abel was reappointed to the role. Abel had previously held the same position.
In the military, a Republican Order appointed Lt. Gen. Philip Nyon Nyon as commander of the elite Tiger Division, replacing Maj. Gen. Valentino Bak Makuei, who had been named to the position in October.
Political Commentary
Political observer Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the frequent cabinet reshuffles signal instability at the heart of government.
“The continuous reshuffling of key officials may not foster stability if the leadership does not prioritize genuine implementation of the 2018 peace agreement,” Yakani told Radio Tamazuj.
He added that the regular replacement of finance ministers has worsened economic mismanagement.
“The Ministry of Finance has turned into a space of trials instead of delivery. Job stability is urgently needed in that seat. Fixing South Sudan’s financial crisis requires total peace and political stability,” he said.
Yakani said the recycling of former officials reflected the influence of power brokers around the presidency rather than a focus on competence or reform.
“Recycling political leaders might create room for malpractices instead of accountability,” he added.
Yakani said the reshuffle may be aimed at securing new avenues for external borrowing and financial support amid the country’s deepening economic crisis.
“The return of former officials could reflect an attempt by the president to strengthen his team to negotiate loans and manage debt as the government faces mounting fiscal pressure,” he concluded.