South Sudan is mourning the loss of veteran economist Othom Rago Ajak, who died in Cairo on Wednesday after a brief illness at the age of 70.
Arrangements are being finalized to return his body to Juba, where he will be buried next week, his family announced.
Tributes have poured in from the financial sector. The Bank of South Sudan’s board, management and staff hailed him as a visionary leader whose expertise was vital in strengthening the country’s economy.
Ajak’s career stretched across more than 40 years in finance and public service. He held several senior roles at the central bank before becoming governor between 2017 and 2018. He also served as a clerk to the National Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2014 and took on administrative roles in Fashoda and Upper Nile State.
Beyond his career, Ajak is remembered as a mentor and a nation-builder. His academic journey took him from the University of Khartoum, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1980, to the American University in Cairo, where he earned a master’s degree in 1993.
His passing marks the loss of a key figure in South Sudan’s economic history. He leaves behind his children and grandchildren.
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