By William Madouk
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) and other political parties face dark hopes for 2024 elections, over failure to register.
Political Parties Council (PPC) in an order No.05/2024 announced an end to registration process on face of aspirant parties for 2024 December elections.
Based on PPC database, the figure of the total registered political parties in South Sudan is twenty-seven and this came after thirteen political groups obtained their legal status after completing registration.
However, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by Dr. Riek Machar Teny, is not among the registered parties on the list that PPC published in Newspapers.
The last parties to register include the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Federal Democratic Party (FDC), the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Communist Party of South Sudan (CPSS), and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Others are the South Sudan African Party (SSANU), the Generation Party (GP), the National Democratic Front (NDF), the Republican Party of South Sudan (RPSS), the Popular Congress Party (PCP), the South Sudan Generation Party (SSGP), and the Akut Bam Party (ABP).
PPC Chair, Eng. James Akol, said in accordance to section 4,6,7, 8 (6), (7) of the Political Parties Act, 2012 and chapter IV (as amended) registrations will continue but parties aspiring for election have up to June 30th.
“…The Political Parties Council issues NOITCE that, the registrations of political parties shall bean ongoing process,” said Akol.
“However, for those entities aspiring to be registered as political parties for purposes of the 2024 general election, you are notified that, the cut-off date for registrations is 30th June, 2024,”
Akol urged all aspiring to be registered to expedite submission of their application before 30th June, 2024.
Efforts by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper to get comment from Regina Joseph, Secretary General of the SPLM/A-IO were futile as several calls on the known contact went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Puok Bualang the press Sectary in the office of Frist Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and the Deputy director for information and community of the SPLM-IO is yet to comment over the matter.
PPC chief earlier said registration exercise has no dateline but emphasized that parties that would like to compete must be registered 180 days before the actual date of the elections.
Months ago, the Political Parties Council held its ground to affirm the remain of its controversial registration fees capped at $50,000 that had been challenged by the minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs, Ruben Madol.
However, to date, its not clear whether the country will hold elections in December this year or not, as the declaration still hangs in a consensus to be reach at, by parties to 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.