South Sudan President Dismisses Finance Minister Amid Economic Crisis
South Sudan President Salva Kiir has removed Finance Minister Marial Dongrin Ater, marking the seventh such dismissal since 2020 as the nation grapples with severe economic challenges and political tensions, reports 24brussels.
State-run radio announced on Thursday that Kiir’s decision to dismiss Ater, who held the ministerial position since July 2024, lacks an official explanation. Former finance minister Athian Ding Athian, who served from 2020 to 2021, has been appointed to replace him.
South Sudan’s economy has faced continuous strain in recent years, impacted by interruptions in crude oil exports due to the civil war from 2013 to 2018 and, more recently, the instability in neighboring Sudan. The International Monetary Fund anticipates a 4.3% economic contraction for the year 2025, alongside an alarming inflation rate projected at 65.7%.
Since becoming the first president of South Sudan following its independence from Sudan in 2011, Kiir’s administration remains beset by political challenges. Tensions escalated in March when First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest. Information Minister Michael Makuei accused Machar of inciting his supporters to rebel against the government in a bid to disrupt the upcoming elections, risking a return to conflict.
The recent dismissal of the finance minister underscores the ongoing political instability and economic uncertainty in South Sudan, raising alarms regarding governance and the prospects for lasting peace in the country.
