Chol’s dismissal comes less than a year since his appointment to the position in August last year.
In another decree, President Kiir appointed Awou Daniel Chuang as Chol’s successor. Chuang, formerly South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister until February 2020, then served as the ministry’s undersecretary until his dismissal in July 2022.
The presidential decree, broadcast on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), did not provide specific reasons for the change in leadership within the finance ministry.
Chol’s removal coincides with a challenging economic period for South Sudan. The nation grapples with economic strains, highlighted by the weakening exchange rate of the South Sudanese pound.
Officially, the pound trades at SSP1612.2471 against one United States dollar, while on the parallel market, it hovers around SSP1900.
Chol’s departure follows a trend of short-lived tenures in the finance ministry. He assumed office in August 2023, succeeding former Finance Minister Dier Tong Ngor, who also served for less than a year.
The repercussions of this ministerial change amid economic uncertainties remain to be seen, as South Sudan aims for stability in its financial landscape.
Kiir will change all his clans mates in the finance docket but will not fix the problem. The problem is Kiir and his generals who lack financial discipline and behave above the law. Kiir must diveriafy the oil dollars to boost production. an ecy where onions and tomatoes are all important outs pressure on the demand for dollar. such essentials need to be locally produced and that calls for improved Security situation to boost local production. Finance Minister is not responsible for security details as such sacking all the finance ministers will not fix the problem. Kiir must go and a new preaident will fix the Security challenges but not Kiir.