The Political Parties Council has set October 22 as the final deadline for political parties seeking to register pre-election coalitions ahead of the scheduled national elections.

The Council says all coalition applications, agreements and required financial deposits must be submitted by 5 PM on October 22, in line with the 60-day statutory filing period before the elections.

In an order issued on today, PPC Chairperson James Akol Zakayo Dhiak outlined the procedures parties must follow before their coalitions can be formally recognized.

The directive says only political parties holding a valid Certificate of Full Registration are eligible to form a pre-election coalition.

Parties under provisional registration, including factions without full registration, will not be allowed to enter coalition agreements under the new order.

Each participating party must also obtain authorization from its highest decision-making body.

The resolution must approve the coalition and identify the officials authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the party.

The Council further requires coalition agreements to clearly spell out coalition nomination rules and coalition election rules, as required under Section 10(4) of the Political Parties Act.

The agreements must be signed by authorized party representatives and authenticated by an Advocate of the High Court of South Sudan or a Commissioner for Oaths.

According to the order, parties must submit their applications to the PPC Secretariat in Juba together with three original copies of the coalition agreement, certified copies of their authorizing resolutions, and original bank deposit slips showing payment of the required registration fee.

The Registrar of the Political Parties Council will then review each application within seven business days of receiving the complete documents.

Successful coalitions will be entered into the Official Coalition Register and issued certificates of registration.

The Council says it will also notify the National Elections Commission to facilitate the formalization of joint electoral symbols.

The order, titled the Order for the Regulation and Registration of Pre-Election Coalitions, 2026, takes immediate effect upon signature.