The head of National Revenue Authority (NRA) Dr. Patrick Mugoya was sacked on Friday evening by President Salva Kiir with immediate effect.

In a presidential decree read on state-run media, Kiir fired Dr. Mugoya from his position, citing powers bestowed upon him by the National Revenue Authority Act 2016.

According to the presidential decree, the removal follows the expiry of the commissioner-general’s contract.

Dr. Mugoya, a Tanzanian national, was appointed to head the NRA in early October 2020.

Kiir, in another decree, appointed Athian Diing Athian as the new Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority.

The new Commissioner-General had served as minister of finance and planning before he was sacked by President Salva Kiir in November 2021.

According to Article 16 (1) of the National Revenue Authority Act 2016, the position of the commissioner-general shall be filled through a competitive process by publicly advertising the vacancy and the selection and recommendation of the suitable candidate shall be made by the minister for appointment by the country’s president.

It remains unclear if the vacancy was advertised publicly.

The NRA, established in 2018, is mandated to among others reduce dependency on oil revenues and strengthen the non-oil revenue sector.