Sometimes I ask myself whether South Sudan’s economic collapse was simply mismanagement or whether it was carefully engineered by men who knew exactly what they were doing. The news of Salvatore Garang Mabiordit’s reappointment to the finance docket makes that question even sharper. It is the return of a man whose name is tied to black market dealings, crooked networks, and the mortgaging of our nation’s future.
I remember his previous tenure clearly. Salaries went unpaid, the currency lost its value, and inflation suffocated families across the country. Instead of stabilizing the economy, Garang Mabiordit presold our crude oil until 2027, locking South Sudan into debt for years to come. That single decision buried the economy, but it was not the only one. The black market thrived under his watch, and whispers grew louder that he was not just tolerating it but orchestrating it.
When I talk about the black market, I do not mean ordinary traders engaged in informal dealings. I mean the networks of elites who controlled foreign exchange, contracts, and oil revenues. These were not random actors. They were part of a system protected by President Salva Kiir’s patronage. Garang Mabiordit was their man in the Ministry of Finance, the facilitator who ensured that wealth flowed into private hands while the public treasury remained empty. His reappointment tells me that these networks are still alive, still powerful, and still determined to finish what they started.
And then there is the infamous Dubai fist fight with Kur Ajing. For many, it was gossip, a scandal that entertained the diaspora. But for me, it symbolized something deeper. It revealed the recklessness, the lack of dignity, and the volatility of a man entrusted with the nation’s finances. Leaders are supposed to embody discipline and responsibility. Instead, Garang Mabiordit projected chaos.
So what does his return mean for the people of South Sudan? It means more of the same. It means the black market will continue to dictate survival. It means oil revenues, already mortgaged, will be squandered further. It means teachers, doctors, and civil servants will keep waiting for salaries that never come. It means ordinary citizens will continue to starve while elites enrich themselves.
I cannot overlook the timing of this decision. South Sudan is standing on fragile ground, with inflation crushing households and humanitarian needs overwhelming communities. Citizens are exhausted, losing faith, and searching desperately for relief. In such a moment of crisis, bringing back the very man who presided over the collapse of the economy cannot be called “searching for a solution”. It is an act of cruelty. It sends a clear message that the system values loyalty to patronage networks above competence, accountability, and the survival of its people.
This is why I see Garang Mabiordit’s return not as a new chapter but as political recycling. The system that creates, protects, and later sacrifices such individuals remains intact. Only the actors change. Today it is Garang Mabiordit. Tomorrow, it will be someone else from the same circle. The economy will not recover until the entire system is dismantled, not just reshuffled.
My conclusion is simple. South Sudanese citizens should not expect relief from this appointment. They should expect more corruption, more impunity, and more suffering. The collapse of the economy will not just continue. It will be completed.
The writer is the Chairman of the People’s United Forum(PUF) and also the Chairman of the Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP).
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.