South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir dismissed the country’s finance and interior ministers on Friday.
According to a presidential decree, Athian Diing Athian has been replaced by Agak Achuil as the new finance minister, while Mahmoud Solomon will take over from Paul Mayom Akech as interior minister
No reason was cited for President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s decision.
Government officials said Athian’s removal was likely due to the country’s spiralling economic crisis.
According to reports, mounting criticism against Athian by civil servants who have not been paid their salaries for nearly five months would have also factored in his dismissal.
Kiir has been known to make such sudden changes, with his most recent one being the unexpected sacking of Beatrice Khamisa Wani as foreign minister in September.
Wani was replaced by Mayik Ayii Deng, who served as minister of presidential affairs up until last year.
Earlier in April this year, Kiir made a slew of changes in the country’s top leadership posts, including firing army chief Gen. Johnson Juma Okot and top spymaster Gen. Thomas Duoth.
