South Sudan president urges Finance minister to fight graft

August 5, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has urged the new Finance minister Baak Barnaba Chol to improve the economy and fight graft.

Kiir, in a decree issued on Thursday, appointed Baak to succeed Dier Tong Ngor.

The decree did, however, mention why the former Finance minister was removed.

Speaking at the swearing occasion of the new minister on Friday, the president requested Baak to improve the economy by staying focused on the job and “not to accept being intimidated by those people who want to run away with public money”.

Kiir assured the minister of his support as the latter implements economic reforms.

For his part, however, Baak said he would work to reduce high inflation rates in the young nation, pledging robust measures to tackle South Sudan’s ailing economy.

South Sudan’s economic crisis has been driven by the rapidly depreciating value of its currency (SSP), shortages of hard currency and significant dependence on imports.

(ST)