South Sudan president dismisses finance minister

Aug 4, 2023 - 17:13

South Sudan's Minister of Finance and Planning Dier Tong Ngor (3rd L), and Mary-Ellen McGroarty, country director for the WFP in South Sudan, exchange signed documents in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on May 10, 2023. South Sudan on Wednesday contributed 15 million U.S. dollars to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to boost provision of relief food to vulnerable people. (Photo by Oketayot Santo Obwoya/Xinhua)

JUBA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) --

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir on Thursday evening removed Minister of Finance and Planning Dier Tong Ngor and replaced him with Bak Barnaba Chol.

Kiir did not give any reason for the dismissal which came amid hyperinflation and depreciation of the country's local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP).

The SSP fell to a record low of 1,000 against the U.S. dollar, down from 850 to the greenback three months ago.

The new finance minister previously served as controller of accounts in the presidency and later served at South Sudan's permanent mission to the United Nations.

He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Juba.