In a move that has sent ripples through South Sudan’s already fragile government, President Salva Kiir dismissed Finance Minister Marial Dongrin Ater on August 21, 2025, marking the seventh change in this pivotal cabinet position since 2020. The announcement came via state-owned radio and television late Thursday, with no official explanation provided for Ater’s removal. Athian Ding Athian, a familiar face who previously held the finance portfolio from 2020 to 2021, was swiftly named as Ater’s replacement, according to reports from both Reuters and Radio Tamazuj.
This rapid turnover at the top of the finance ministry comes at a time of acute economic and political turbulence in the world’s youngest nation. South Sudan’s economy, heavily dependent on oil, has been battered by a series of misfortunes: persistent communal violence, the lingering aftershocks of the 2013-2018 civil war, and, more recently, the disruption of crude oil exports due to ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan. The result has been a sharp decline in government revenues and mounting hardship for ordinary citizens, with banks now facing severe cash shortages and inflation spiraling out of control.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has painted a grim picture for 2025, forecasting a 4.3% contraction in South Sudan’s economy and an eye-watering inflation rate of 65.7%. According to Reuters, these dire projections have only intensified pressure on the government to find solutions—and fast. In July, Central Bank Governor Dr. Addis Ababa Othow announced plans to print more South Sudanese Pounds in a bid to address the country’s liquidity crisis, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from economists and the public alike.
Dr. Abraham Maliet Mamer, a Juba-based economic analyst and advisor to the transitional government’s Economic Cluster, told Radio Tamazuj that the latest shake-up is part of President Kiir’s search for answers. “The ministerial change comes as Kiir seeks solutions to the country’s economic challenges,” Mamer explained. He described the new finance minister, Athian Ding Athian, as experienced and capable, but he didn’t shy away from highlighting the gravity of the situation. “The time now is different from when he was minister before—things were a little bit rosy. His return to the ministry is a big challenge, so he has to work harder and move quickly,” Mamer said. He urged Athian to draw on his previous experience and tap into available human resources to address the current crisis.
Yet, not everyone is convinced that these frequent changes at the top are helpful. Political observer Edmund Yakani warned that the regular reshuffling of finance ministers is becoming a destabilizing force in its own right. “The regular reshuffling of finance ministers is becoming a factor of economic and financial instability,” Yakani told Radio Tamazuj. He cautioned that such instability could further disrupt the work of the Finance Ministry and potentially delay the passage of the 2025–2026 national budget. “This culture of frequent changes also nurtures corruption and undermines efforts to implement public finance reforms. I hope this latest change will not delay the passing of the 2025–2026 national budget,” Yakani added.
Athian Ding Athian’s return to the finance ministry is not without controversy. During his previous tenure, he was dismissed for alleged insubordination, reportedly for failing to inform the president about the true state of government finances. He later served as Commissioner-General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority from June to October 2023, a period marked by ongoing fiscal strain. Whether Athian’s experience will help or hinder his ability to steer the country through its current woes remains to be seen.
President Kiir’s cabinet reshuffle didn’t stop with the finance ministry. The minister responsible for investment, Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing, was also shown the door, replaced by Joseph Muom Majak, a former trade minister. In another decree, Kiir removed Arop Nuoi Arop as First Undersecretary of Finance in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, appointing Garang Majak Bol, who has previously held the same position. According to BBC and Radio Tamazuj, these moves are seen as efforts to inject new energy into a government struggling to maintain stability amid daunting challenges.
South Sudan’s political landscape has been no less volatile. Earlier this year, First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest, a development that raised fears of renewed conflict in a country still haunted by the devastation of its last civil war. Information Minister Michael Makuei explained the government’s rationale, stating, “Machar was detained to prevent rebellion efforts,” as reported by Reuters. Makuei accused Machar of contacting his supporters and “agitating them to rebel against the government with the aim of disrupting peace so that elections are not held and South Sudan goes back to war.” Machar’s party has flatly denied these allegations, insisting that the detention was politically motivated.
President Kiir, who has been at the helm since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is facing mounting challenges on all fronts. The ongoing economic crisis is testing the patience of citizens, many of whom are struggling to afford basic necessities as the value of their currency plummets. The political uncertainty, marked by frequent cabinet reshuffles and the suppression of opposition figures, has only deepened concerns about the country’s future stability.
South Sudan’s reliance on oil exports has long been a double-edged sword. While oil revenues once fueled hopes for prosperity following independence, the sector has become increasingly precarious. The civil war that erupted in 2013 not only devastated communities but also crippled the oil industry, slashing production and export earnings. More recently, the conflict in neighboring Sudan has further disrupted vital export routes, compounding the government’s fiscal woes. As a result, the country’s foreign reserves have dwindled, and the government has struggled to pay salaries and fund public services.
Against this backdrop, the decision to print more currency has sparked debate among economists and the public. While it may provide temporary relief for cash-starved banks, many worry that it could exacerbate inflation and erode public confidence in the South Sudanese Pound. Dr. Abraham Maliet Mamer, the economic advisor, stressed the importance of comprehensive reforms and prudent management, urging the new finance minister to act swiftly and decisively.
For now, all eyes are on Athian Ding Athian as he steps back into a role fraught with difficulty. Will his previous experience help him navigate the treacherous waters of South Sudan’s economy, or will the cycle of instability continue? The coming months will be telling, as the government grapples with the twin challenges of restoring economic stability and maintaining political peace in a nation yearning for a brighter future.
With the stakes so high, South Sudan’s latest cabinet reshuffle underscores just how precarious the country’s path remains—and how urgently its leaders must act to chart a new course.