(JUBA) – A high level government team led by the Minister of Finance and Planning, Athian Ding Athian, has arrived in Washington to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The visit is seen as part of efforts to secure budget support, development financing and investor confidence for South Sudan’s economy.
The delegation includes the Governor of the Central Bank, Addis Ababa Othow, the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, Simon Akuei, and the Undersecretary for Planning in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Benjamin Ayali. Senior officials from the ministry are also part of the team.
Their programme began with a meeting with Ndiame Diop, the World Bank Vice President for the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The talks focused on the status of current World Bank funded projects in South Sudan and how they can move faster. These projects cover public finance reforms, agriculture, infrastructure and local service delivery.
The officials are expected to take part in joint sessions of the IMF and World Bank throughout the week. They will also hold separate meetings with development partners, finance experts and global economic agencies. According to officials, the aim is to attract new funding commitments, improve investor relations and push for stronger cooperation.
The government wants to use the meetings to raise issues such as inflation control, exchange rate stability, revenue mobilisation and debt management. South Sudan also hopes to secure continued technical support for financial reforms and project implementation.
Although no figures have been announced, the visit is taking place at a time when the country is seeking to improve economic stability and attract external investment. Analysts say the outcome of the meetings could influence South Sudan’s fiscal planning, donor confidence and the pace of development projects in the year ahead.
South Sudan Courts IMF and World Bank Support
| Official | Position | Main Focus in Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Athian Ding Athian | Minister of Finance and Planning | Lead delegation, budget and project support |
| Addis Ababa Othow | Central Bank Governor | Monetary stability and reform talks |
| Simon Akuei | Commissioner General, SSRA | Revenue and tax policy engagement |
| Benjamin Ayali | Undersecretary for Planning | Development planning and funding |
| Ndiame Diop | World Bank Vice President | Project implementation discussions |