By MAGGIE FICK, Associated Press
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan formed a caretaker government for the new nation Monday, and announced it will use a new currency that features the image of the deceased founder of the nation’s liberation struggle.
South Sudan became an independent country Saturday, breaking away from Sudan after more than 50 years of on-and-off war.
The country’s finance minister, David Deng Athorbie, said Monday the new currency would be called the South Sudan pound and will replace the Sudan pound currently in use. It is scheduled to arrive by cargo plane beginning Wednesday and will go into circulation next Monday. It will have a one-to-one value with the Sudan pound.