Addis Ababa appointed as head of the central bank in South Sudan

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The President of the Republic of South Sudan has issued Salva Kiir MayarditA presidential decree relieved Johnny Ohisa Damian of his post as governor of the Bank of South Sudan and appointed former governor Addis Ababa Otho as the new head of the central bank, in the latest change in the leadership of the country's monetary institution.

The presidential decree did not include any explanations regarding the reasons for the decision, which comes amid the continued economic challenges facing South Sudan, most notably the decline in the value of the local currency and the rise in inflation rates.

A series of frequent changes

This reshuffle is the latest in a series of frequent changes at the head of the central bank in recent years. In January 2026, President Salva Kiir reappointed Johnny Ohisa as governor of the central bank after dismissing Yeni Samuel Costa, whose term lasted no more than two months, making it Ohisa’s third term since 2022.

Ohisa’s career has seen several appointments and dismissals. He first took over as governor of the central bank in August 2022, before being dismissed in October 2023. He then returned to the position in December 2024, was dismissed again in June 2025, before being reappointed at the beginning of 2026, with his current term ending with the latest dismissal decision.

During his previous terms, Ohisa led a number of monetary reforms aimed at curbing inflation and stabilizing the South Sudanese pound exchange rate, including halting government overdrafts, launching new monetary policy tools, and working to establish a unified treasury account in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

Ohisa is one of the most prominent financial experts in South Sudan, having held leadership positions in the Ministry of Finance and the Commercial International Bank. He has also worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Vision, and holds a master's degree in development finance from the University of Reading in the UK.

The new governor, Addis Ababa Otho, has extensive banking and economic experience, having previously served as deputy governor of the Bank of South Sudan and as executive manager of Equity Bank of South Sudan. He holds a doctorate in political economy and business administration.

This change comes at a time when the Bank of South Sudan continues to face significant challenges related to managing monetary policy, maintaining financial stability, and supporting the economy amid the difficult economic conditions in the world's newest nation.