JUBA, South Sudan — A former South Sudan finance minister dismissed earlier this week by President Salva Kiir Mayardit has been arrested while allegedly attempting to leave the country, according to local media reports.
Dr Barnaba Bak Chol, 43, was removed from office on Monday through a presidential decree broadcast on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, ending a tenure that lasted just over three months following his reappointment in November.
He formally handed over to his successor, Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, a day before his reported arrest.
Regional outlet Radio Tamazuj, citing unnamed security sources, said Dr Bak was intercepted at around 8pm on Friday in the border town of Nimule. He was allegedly attempting to cross into Uganda through an unofficial route on a motorcycle taxi, commonly known as a boda boda.
Video clips circulating on social media appear to show the former minister with what look like bloodstains on his clothing following what sources described as a pursuit by security officers. In one recording, he is heard asking officers not to film him after being stopped near the Elegu-Nimule border crossing.
Photographs shared online also show what appears to be a large, undisclosed amount of US dollars allegedly seized during the arrest. Authorities had not issued a formal statement by the time of publication.
The reported detention comes just days after Dr Bak publicly dismissed claims that he had been arrested.
“I want to reassure everyone that I’m safe, well, and continuing with my normal activities,” he said on Tuesday. “The reports circulating on social media claiming that I have been arrested are completely false. I remain at peace and in good health.”
He also thanked President Kiir for the opportunity to serve.
“I am deeply grateful to His Excellency the President Salva Kiir Mayardit for the trust and responsibility he placed in me during my service as Minister of Finance and Planning,” Bak said, describing the role as a “profound honour.”
He expressed appreciation to colleagues and development partners and reiterated his commitment to “peace, stability, and prosperity” in South Sudan.
Friday’s events, however, appear to contradict his earlier assurances and suggest rapidly evolving developments behind the scenes.
Dr Bak’s arrest is part of what observers describe as a broader crackdown on senior figures in South Sudan’s financial and security institutions.
Former central bank governor Moses Makur Deng Manguak was reportedly placed under house arrest in Juba earlier this week. Former finance minister Marial Dongrin Ater was arrested in Rumbek and transferred to the capital.
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In addition, Major General Manasseh Machar Bol, a senior security officer formerly attached to the Ministry of Petroleum, was taken into custody. Deng Lual Wol, the former undersecretary at the petroleum ministry, was also reportedly detained after presenting himself to the National Security Service for questioning.
The reasons behind the arrests remain unclear.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with deep-rooted governance challenges, including corruption allegations, weak institutional oversight and heavy dependence on oil revenues.
The country is facing acute fiscal strain, marked by currency depreciation, inflationary pressure and disruptions to oil exports, its primary source of government income.
Analysts say that instability in the financial sector has heightened tensions within the political establishment as authorities attempt to stabilise state revenues.
Dr Bak, a professor at the University of Juba, previously served as finance minister from August 2023 to March 2024 before returning to the post in November. His abrupt dismissal earlier this week was not accompanied by an official explanation.
As authorities remain silent on the circumstances surrounding his arrest, questions persist over whether the detentions signal an anti-corruption drive, political realignment, or efforts to contain financial fallout amid mounting economic stress.
