JUBA, Aug. 22, 2025 – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the country’s newly appointed Minister of Finance and Planning, Athian Diing Athian, to prioritize stabilizing South Sudan’s faltering economy and curb the escalating inflation that continues to burden citizens.
The president issued the instructions during the swearing-in ceremony for senior government appointees held in Juba on Friday. Those sworn in included Athian Diing Athian as Minister of Finance and Planning, Joseph Mum Majak as Minister of Investment, and Adut Salva Kiir, appointed as Presidential Envoy on Special Programs.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Kiir emphasized that the officials must strengthen national leadership, improve delivery of public services, and work together to meet the rising expectations of South Sudanese people.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit has sworn in newly appointed senior government officials, including the Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, the Minister of Finance and Planning, and the Minister of Investment,” the statement read. It noted that Kiir, 74, particularly tasked the new finance minister with stabilizing the economy and restoring financial discipline.
The president further stressed the importance of transparency in financial institutions, saying accountability is critical to regaining trust both domestically and internationally. He called on Athian to implement policies that would not only address inflation but also lay the groundwork for long-term economic stability.
For Joseph Mum Majak, the new investment minister, Kiir directed him to prioritize attracting foreign investment and fostering conditions that can generate economic growth.
The appointment of Adut Salva Kiir as presidential envoy on special programs also drew attention. The role, vacant since February following Benjamin Bol Mel’s elevation to the vice presidency and chairmanship of the economic cluster, has been described as central to the country’s fragile state-building efforts.
Adut, the president’s daughter, is no stranger to public initiatives. She is the founder of the Adut Salva Kiir Foundation, which has engaged in community development projects. Her appointment is seen as an effort to revitalize the envoy’s office and give it renewed visibility at a time of political and economic uncertainty.
