Fact-check: The minister of finance and planning, Dier Tong not suspended

Although social media declared him suspended, Dier Tong, the minister of finance and planning, is still in office.

By Ghai Aketch

News making the rounds on Facebook and WhatsApp allege that the sitting minister of finance and planning Dier Tong was suspended on 21 September 2022. 

“…Hon. Dier Tong suspended,” partly reads the headline of a Facebook post shared on September 21, 2022.

The post claimed that the finance minister was formally served with a suspension letter awaiting for further investigation to be conducted on Friday that week by a joint security Committee tasked by the office of the president.

Screenshot of the Facebook Post claiming that Dier Tong has been suspended

Is minister Dier Tong really suspended? 211 Check finds out:

Normally, the president announces public committees through the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation. Mainstream media would have covered the story, which is never the case with this claim.

When contacted by 211 Check on September 28, 2022, an official at the finance and planning ministry communications department,  Maal Maker said the claim is not true and that the minister was performing his ministerial duties. 

“That is not true. Hon. Dr. Dier is doing his assignment as always,” he told 211 Check in a message reply.

In a statement the same week amidst the suspension allegations, the minister of finance and planning in an assuring tone said he was currently in his office performing his duties and was under no investigation whatsoever.

Corruption scandal claims:

A corruption scandal involving the current Finance Minister, Hon. Dier Tong, was widely reported on social media the same week, just hours before the allegations of suspension. Dier Tong was accused of wiring 15 million US dollars from the government to a personal account at the Ugandan National Bank. 

These corruption allegations were later dismissed by Dier Tong as reported by Eye Radio as unfounded.

“I was aware when I was honored with the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and Planning that I would be facing pernicious resistance from those benefiting from the inherent weakness in our public finance system. I shall therefore, not be deterred or intimidated…” Hon. Dier Tong was quoted in his statement.

Conclusion:

Claims that the minister of finance and planning, Dier Tong has been suspended are false. A statement from his office confirms that the minister is performing his ministerial duties.