Power Shake-Up in Juba: Kiir Dismisses Finance Minister and Security Bosses

In a broad reshuff of senior government and security officials announced on state television late Monday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has fired a number of senior government and security officials, including his finance minister. The sweeping changes are against the background of an increasing political tension and having doubts on the elections repeatedly delayed in the country.

The announcement, made on South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), announced that Athian Diing Athian, who was the Finance Minister, was ousted only a week and a half after he assumed office. He will succumb to Barnaba Bak Chol who was briefly in the same office earlier this year but was fired in March this year. The latest shift in the management of the South Sudan weak economy was the eighth change at the finance ministry since 2020 and highlights the fact that the South Sudan is still experiencing instability in the management of its economy.

The decree had an influence on the important personalities in the presidency as well. Madut Yel formerly the presidential advisor on security affairs was replaced by Tut Gatluak who goes back to a position he formerly held. The presidential affairs minister, Chol Ajongo was also dismissed and replaced by Africano Mande. At the Office of the President, the executive director Ajing Deng was fired and James Deng Wal was put in his place.

Kiir also reshuffled the security establishment whereby the commander of the elite Tiger Division, the Major General Valentino Baak Makuei was replaced by Lieutenant General Philip Nyon. One of the strongest units of the military of the country is the Tiger Division that is entrusted with the task of securing the president and other important government buildings.

Other ministries and diplomatic posts were also changed. At the ministry of petroleum, the undersecretary, Deng Lual was ousted, and Chol Deng took his position. Rita Kiden Lotua took up the position of the South Sudan ambassador in Rwanda meanwhile.

There was no formal justification of the massive change. Analysts however blame such reshuffles on the long term plan by President Kiir of always ensuring that he keeps close check on the government by often changing government officials. This is a relocation following South Sudan, which is increasingly experiencing economic difficulties, intermittent violence and uncertainty as to when the country will have its first national elections.

Since the country came into existence in 2011 after becoming independent of Sudan, President Kiir has been in power. Elections that were originally scheduled in 2023 were postponed to 2024 and again, the transitional government is struggling to follow significant provisions of the 2018 peace agreement.

The agreement that was orchestrated by Sudan and Uganda put to an end years of civil war between Kiir and his opponent, Riek Machar, who is currently the first vice president. The war broke out in 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of staging a coup which led to fighting that claimed the lives of over 400,000 individuals and displaced millions of people.

The peace deal has brought back some form of sanity but the gains have been slow in implementation.