The request was presented on Tuesday during a meeting in Juba between the Council and a ministerial delegation from the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5), which is in the country to assess readiness for the elections.

Speaking at the meeting, PPC Chairperson James Akol Zakayo Dhiak said South Sudan currently has 39 fully registered political parties and highlighted the Council’s key priorities ahead of the polls.

According to Akol, the Council is focused on protecting political and civic space, enforcing the inter-party Code of Conduct to prevent hate speech, and promoting the participation of women, youth, and minority groups in the electoral process.

He stressed that conducting peaceful and credible elections will require transparency, cooperation among stakeholders, and strong institutions.

Akol also underscored the importance of close coordination between the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission, saying such collaboration is vital for a successful electoral process.

The PPC is seeking $23.08 million to extend its activities beyond Juba to all 10 states and three administrative areas.

The proposed funding would support the completion of the Council’s headquarters, deployment of field monitoring teams equipped with digital tools, and other operational activities ahead of the elections.

To enhance accountability and transparency in the management of the funds, the Council proposed that the resources be administered through an African Union basket fund coordinated by the African Union Mission in South Sudan.

The African Union delegation, led by South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, is in South Sudan to engage transitional institutions and assess progress towards the 22 December 2026 general elections.

The delegation includes foreign ministers and representatives from South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The officials have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and South Sudan’s democratic transition.