James Alic Garang

James Alic Garang is a South Sudanese economist, Chair of Monetary Affairs Committee of the East Africa Community and the former governor of the Bank of South Sudan. He previously served as a senior advisor to the Executive Director at the IMF Executive Board in Washington, DC. Garang assumed the office after being appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on October 4, 2023.

Early life and education

Garang was born in Ajok Village, Ayat Center, Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in what is now South Sudan .

After completing high school, Garang relocated to the United States through the Lost Boys of Sudan program. He immediately enrolled at Salt Lake Community College, where he graduated with an Associate Degree in 2003.

In May 2006, he graduated from the University of Utah with honors Degree of Science. In December 2009, he attained a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and in May 2014, he attained a PhD in Economics from the same institution.

Career

Garang profession started at the Upper Nile University as an Assistant Professor and Deputy Dean. He worked as an intern for African Development Bank in Tunis, Tunisia between 2009 and 2010. He was also the banking sector's lead evaluator for the Comprehensive Evaluation of the Government of Southern Sudan (2006-2010) and worked as a consultant of the Republic of South Sudan (June –August 2011) and World Bank South Sudan Office (2013-2014).

Garang is also the founder of the Africa Center for Financial Inclusion, a non-profit institution that promotes inclusive financial system in Africa.

In July 2024, he received the African Economic Resilience and Growth Champion Award at the 14th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), which was held from 4 to 5 July 2024. The award ceremony was a highlight of the ALM Africa Summit London 2024.

In July 2024, he represented South Sudan at the African Leadership Summit, which was held on the 17 to 18 July 2024 at the Hilton London Metropole and House of Lords, London, United Kingdom.

In September 2024, Garang launched a cashless campaign drive urging South Sudanese citizens to embrace electronic payment options, such as mobile money, debit cards and credit cards as a way of promoting digitization of financial services.

Publications

Garang has published in various economic and related disciplines in various journals: