Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso replaced the nation’s finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle, after a squeeze on state finances led to a shortage of cash in the Central African nation.

Christian Yoka will replace Jean-Baptiste Ondaye, Florent Ntsiba, the director of staff in the presidency, said in a statement broadcast on Tele Congo on Monday. In addition to the finance portfolio, Yoka will also be responsible for the budget and public assets, he said.

The change is “with a view to giving new impetus to government action in the quest for greater efficiency,” Yoka said.

Oil-producing Congo last year restructured its domestic debt and initiated a series of cost-saving measures after a shortage of cash led to the non-payment of public-servant salaries. Ondaye had announced plans in November to implement reforms aimed at boosting state revenue.

Yoka previously served as the head of the Africa department at the French Development Agency. He has a postgraduate diploma in law and taxation from the University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, and a master’s degree in banking and finance law from Boston University, according to the agency’s website.

Ludovic Ngatse, the previous minister of budget and public assets, will become the minister of the economy and regional integration, Ntsiba said.