High-Level Shake-Up in Juba
State television interrupted its evening music slot to read four presidential decrees removing top economic officials and restoring former ministers Athian Diing Athian and Joseph Mum Majak to the finance and investment posts.
The announcement, delivered by broadcaster SSBC, also named Garang Majak Bol as first undersecretary, signaling a full reset at the ministry of finance and planning.
Economic Headwinds Pressure Policy
The reshuffle arrives as the South Sudanese Pound trades near record lows, while markets grapple with fuel scarcity and erratic commodity prices.
Bank of South Sudan governor Dr Addis Ababa Othow recently told lawmakers that short-term liquidity relief could include printing additional notes, a move he framed as a “bridge to medium-term reforms”.
Profiles of Returning Technocrats
Athian steered finance during the 2019 oil-price slump and is credited by supporters with initiating the current non-oil revenue digitization drive.
Majak, a former trade minister, cultivated contacts with regional chambers of commerce; a Nairobi-based investor called his comeback “a confidence boost for stalled manufacturing deals”.
Regional Implications and Investor Mood
Juba’s policy shifts are watched from Kinshasa to Brazzaville, where officials emphasize the need for coordinated monetary stability across Central Africa.
Analyst Peter Biar notes that “a stable South Sudan supports trade corridors into Congo-Brazzaville’s Pointe-Noire port, benefiting the wider CEMAC zone”.
For young entrepreneurs in Juba, the immediate question remains access to finance; many hope the returning team can quickly unlock payroll arrears and boost bank confidence.