Former finance minister Salvatore Garang dies

Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, a veteran South Sudanese economist who held senior government finance positions before and after independence and served three times as finance minister, has died in Juba, his family and government officials said.

He died at AMI Clinic in the capital on Thursday evening, his family said. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Mabiordit’s career in public finance spanned more than four decades, from the 1980s to 2026. He spent nearly nine years as first undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning before moving into the cabinet.

Early career

Mabiordit studied economics at the University of Liberia from 1970 to 1973 and later obtained a postgraduate diploma in development finance from the University of Birmingham in Britain in 1981-82.

He began his public-service career in finance and auditing, working as director of international audit and inspection at the Council of Ministers in Wau from 1983 to 1991.

He later served as director of accounts at the regional Ministry of Finance in Wau and as director-general of finance in Warrap in 1994-95.

Mabiordit subsequently worked outside government, including as an assistant administrator for MSF Switzerland at Marial Lou Hospital in Tonj from 2001 to 2002 and as an administrator for the Sudan Integrated Mine Action Service in Nairobi from 2002 to 2004.

He worked as an interpreter in Australia from 2004 to 2008 before returning to government.

Senior finance official

Mabiordit became first undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in 2008, a position he held through South Sudan’s independence in 2011 and until 2017.

His tenure placed him at the centre of efforts to establish the public financial institutions of the newly independent country.

He later served as a technical adviser at the Ministry of Trade and Industry before returning to the Finance Ministry as minister.

First term

Kiir appointed Mabiordit finance minister in March 2018, replacing Stephen Dhieu Dau, as South Sudan faced severe economic difficulties following years of conflict.

He remained in office until September 2020, when Kiir removed him in a government reshuffle.

Second term

Mabiordit returned to the finance portfolio in March 2023, serving until August that year. His return marked his second stint as finance minister.

Third term

Mabiordit returned to the Finance Ministry in February 2026 after Kiir removed Bak Barnaba Chol from the post.

In March, while presenting the national budget to parliament, Mabiordit warned against political interference in the allocation of public funds and called for greater adherence to financial regulations. He said government funds should be disbursed according to approved budget allocations.

His return to office was short-lived. On May 6, Kiir removed him as finance minister and appointed Kuol Daniel Ayulo as his replacement.

Community leader

Beyond government, Mabiordit was also a prominent community leader. He served as chairman of the Kuac community, a Rek Dinka community based mainly in Gogrial West County, Warrap State.