South Sudan Political Parties’ Council has commenced the registration of unregistered political parties across the Country.

There were reportedly 14 political parties registered in South Sudan, according to records at the Political Parties Council.

However many parties emerged following the eruption of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts.

These include parties under the South Sudan Opposition alliance, and the SPLM factions such as SPLM-IO, and Real SPLM.

Other parties that emerged after the 2016 conflict include the National Salvation Front led by General Thomas Cirilo and the South Sudan United Front led by General Paul Malong, among others.

According to the Chairperson of the Political Parties Council James Akol Zakayo, any political party intending to participate in the upcoming general elections should now register.

“…order number one for the commencement of registration of unregistered political parties according to the provision of the article 197 A of the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended, read together with section 8 subsection 6 and 7/ 11 E/ 12/14/13 of the political party’s act 2012 amended, and regulation 49 of the political parties regulation mended2024 and cognisant …do hereby announce the beginning of provisional and full registration of unregistered political parties in the country,” he read the directive.

“This order shall come into force on the date of its signature which is today [Tuesday]  the 23^rd of January 2024.

James Akol went on to say “Each party that aspires to be registered must draw its members from two-thirds of the ten states and the three administrative areas.

“You need to have representations in all ten states, and your party must reflect the citizens of South Sudan. It shouldn’t be a tribal party; rather, it must be a party that captures all the tribes in South Sudan.”

In November 2023 President Salva Kiir reconstituted the National Political Parties Council (PPC) and appointed officials to lead the three institutions.

The Political Parties Council is mandated to register, monitor, regulate, and de-register political parties.

The other functions of the Council are to issue certificates of registration to political parties, maintain records of registered political parties, and administer the Political Parties Fund.

South Sudan has scheduled the official first-ever general elections at the end of the transitional period in December 2024 as per the 2018 peace agreement.