South Sudan: Parliament suspends debate on budget over sacked minister

Parliament spokesperson John Agany (radiotamazuj.org)

South Sudan's parliament has temporarily suspended debate on the 2023/2024 fiscal year budget due to recent changes in the Ministry of Finance, the parliament’s spokesperson said.

President Salva Kiir last week fired finance minister Dier Tong Ngor and replaced him with Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol as the new finance minister.

Although the specific rationale behind Tong’s removal remains undisclosed, it coincided with economic challenges, including the devaluation of the local currency, which has consequently resulted in runaway inflation.

Before taking up his new post, Dr. Bak was an adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Juba, one of the public universities in South Sudan.

John Agany Deng, chairperson of the parliamentary committee for information, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the tabling of the annual budget for third reading has been adjourned to allow the new minister of finance to acquaint himself with the annual budget.

Members of parliament were expected to discuss the budget today after the various specialized committees prepared the budget for presentation.

In June, former Finance Minister Dier Tong Ngor presented the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 before Parliament. The proposed budget of 2 trillion SSP focuses primarily on addressing civil servants’ salaries and various government expenditures.

“We need to give the new minister time to look at the budget because he will have a last statement after the passing of the budget because the third reading is a critical stage. This is where a decision will be made, so the minister has been asked to acquaint himself with the budget and I think within these few days, it will be tabled,” Agany explained.

He added, “The new minister has to acquaint himself with the report only. He needs to be informed about the report, and then of course he will be given the chance even though he is new. A minister, of course, you know is a policy maker and for this matter, the policy didn’t go with the former minister, it remains in the office, so the new minister needs to study it, make the last touches, and then he will make a statement.”