JUBA — South Sudan’s Political Parties Council has opened registration for political parties seeking to form electoral coalitions ahead of the general election scheduled for 22 December 2026.
The registration process formally opened on 1 September and applies to registered political parties seeking to organise under coalition arrangements. Parties intending to participate in the December election through a coalition must complete their submissions by 22 October 2026, a deadline set 60 days before polling day.
According to a notice issued by PPC Chairperson Eng. James Akol Zakayo Dhiak, the process is being carried out under Section 10 of the Political Parties Act, 2012, as amended in 2022, covering the legal framework for coalition agreements and their deposit with the council.
The PPC identified three forms for the process: Form P.23 for formation of a coalition of political parties, Form P.24 for deposit of a pre-election coalition agreement and Form P.25 for deposit of a post-election coalition agreement. The forms are available from the council’s offices in Juba.
Registration is not the same as recognition
The opening of registration introduces an important procedural step, but it does not mean that any proposed coalition has already been accepted.
What voters should distinguish
Coalition announcement → registration application → PPC decision → party endorsement and candidate nomination → final ballot approval.
These are separate stages. A public announcement or submitted application is not proof that a coalition has received formal legal recognition.
The available public announcement also does not establish that parties joining a proposed coalition have resolved their own internal leadership disputes, or that the individuals signing on their behalf have been validly authorised to do so.
That distinction could become important where competing leadership groups claim to represent the same party or political alliance.
The PPC’s role becomes more significant
The Political Parties Council is legally responsible for regulating and overseeing the registration, operation and conduct of political parties. The National Elections Commission also identifies the PPC as the institution mandated to mediate and resolve intra-party and inter-party disputes.
The NEC, by contrast, is responsible for conducting and supervising elections, including voter registration, candidate nomination, electoral procedures, complaints and declaration of results.
Coalition registration should therefore not be confused with final approval of individual candidates or their appearance on the ballot.
Leadership disputes could test the process
The October deadline comes amid leadership disputes and competing claims of authority within parts of South Sudan’s political landscape, including political alliances and opposition groupings.
That raises a practical and potentially consequential question for the PPC: who is legally authorised to sign for a party or coalition when rival officials each claim leadership authority?
If competing groups submit conflicting documents, the credibility of the process may depend on whether the council applies clear, published rules when determining which officials are authorised to represent the organisation.
Written reasons for disputed decisions — together with a transparent review or appeal process — would provide political parties and the public with a clearer basis for distinguishing legal determinations from political claims.
What remains unclear
The public reporting reviewed by South Sudan Press identifies the relevant forms and registration deadline, but does not publish the complete application package, the amount of any required deposit or fee, detailed assessment criteria, or the procedure for challenging a rejected application.
South Sudan Press will seek those materials from the Political Parties Council, including clarification on who may sign an application where a party’s leadership is disputed and whether the council intends to publish its decisions with reasons.
A new stage in the election timetable
The National Elections Commission says it is responsible for overseeing South Sudan’s elections and for electoral processes including voter registration, candidate nomination, campaign regulation and electoral complaints.
Coalition registration is therefore one component of a wider sequence of electoral preparations. Parties and candidates will still need to comply with separate requirements before any final ballot is approved.
For voters, that distinction is particularly important as political organisations begin announcing alliances, endorsements and candidates ahead of December.
Why coalitions matter
Electoral coalitions could significantly reshape political strategy before the vote. Smaller parties may seek greater bargaining power or geographic reach by joining alliances, while opposition parties may attempt to consolidate support rather than divide votes among multiple candidates.
But coalitions can also become unstable if agreements are built primarily around election arithmetic without clear rules governing leadership, financing, candidate selection and decision-making.
The distinction between pre-election and post-election coalition agreements therefore matters not only to political parties, but also to voters trying to understand what competing alliances actually represent.
A transparency test
The most important measure of the coalition-registration process will not simply be the number of applications submitted.
It will be whether the rules are applied consistently, transparently and in a way that parties can challenge through defined institutional procedures.
Where leadership is disputed, the PPC should be able to identify the legal or constitutional basis for recognising one authorisation over another. Where an application is rejected, parties should know why. Where a coalition is accepted, voters should be able to determine which parties belong to it and who is authorised to act on its behalf.
A coalition announcement is not the same as an application, and an application is not the same as official registration. Legal status should rest on documented procedures rather than competing public declarations.
Follow South Sudan Elections 2026
For dedicated election timelines, constituencies, civic education and continuing information on South Sudan’s 2026 electoral process, visit SouthSudanElections.org.