By Swift Reporter
Security forces in South Sudan have arrested former finance minister Bak Barnaba Chol after he was intercepted attempting to cross into Uganda with large sums of undeclared cash, officials at the Nimule frontier have confirmed.
Chol was detained at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday near the South Sudan–Uganda border after authorities reportedly intercepted him along an informal route outside the official Elegu border crossing. According to two security officers who spoke to the press, the former minister was travelling on a commercial motorcycle, commonly known as a bodaboda, when he was stopped by security personnel.
During the search, officers allegedly discovered $30,000 in U.S. dollars and 27 million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) concealed in a travel bag.
“During the interception, he was arrested along with $30,000 USD and 27 million SSP hidden in a travel bag,” one security official said.
A second border officer confirmed the seizure, adding that Chol was apprehended while attempting to leave the country through an unofficial crossing point.
Videos circulating on social media show the former minister in custody following what appeared to be a pursuit by security personnel. In one clip, Chol is seen with visible bloodstains on his clothing and can be heard asking officers not to film him.
The arrest came just a day after Chol formally handed over leadership of the finance ministry to his successor, Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, following his dismissal earlier this week by President Salva Kiir.
Chol had served slightly more than three months in the role during his most recent appointment. He previously held the same portfolio between August 2023 and March 2024. Beyond government service, he is also an academic affiliated with the University of Juba.
As of Saturday, the government had not released an official statement regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest or any potential charges.
The detention comes amid a broader wave of security operations targeting senior figures associated with the country’s financial and security institutions, as authorities confront mounting economic pressures and heightened scrutiny over public finances.
Earlier this week, former Bank of South Sudan governor Moses Makur Deng Manguak and former finance minister Marial Dongrin Ater were arrested in Rumbek before being transferred to the capital, Juba.
Security agencies have also detained Maj. Gen. Manasseh Machar Bol, a senior intelligence officer previously assigned to the petroleum ministry, as well as Deng Lual Wol, who was reportedly held after appearing for questioning at National Security Service headquarters.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has faced persistent challenges in managing public finances, with recurring allegations of corruption and weak oversight mechanisms weighing on investor confidence and economic stability. Authorities have not yet indicated whether the recent arrests are part of a coordinated anti-corruption drive or separate investigations.
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