Three South Sudanese political parties, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), and Federal Democratic Party (FDP), have accused the chairperson of the Political Parties Council (PPC) of altering their official registration records. The parties claim the changes, which affected their leadership structures and names, could prevent them from contesting the December 22 elections. The allegations were made at a joint press conference at the NDM headquarters in Juba.
The NDM is led by veteran opposition politician Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, while the SSNMC is led by Moro Isaac Genesio. Both parties were part of the 2018 peace agreement that established the now-dissolved transitional unity government. According to the parties, a new list of registered political parties began circulating in the capital, showing changes to the names and leadership of some previously registered parties, increasing the total number of registered parties from 39 to 46.
The parties claim that 39 political parties had been officially registered by the time the registration process closed on June 30. Bol Joseph Agau, secretary-general of the NDM, said the changes affected the FDP, NDM, and SSNMC, with the leaders listed for all three parties replaced. He also said the FDP's logo had been changed. The parties provided PPC Order No. 5 of 2026, which confirmed that the changes had been made on the instructions of PPC chairman James Akol Zakayo.
The order granted registration to nine political entities to participate in democratic processes, including the December 22 elections. However, Agau alleged that seven of the newly registered parties had been added without following the registration procedures required under the Political Parties Act. The allegations have not been independently verified. Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin said his party and the SSNMC had previously been formally recognised by the PPC, with the council publicly identifying their leaders when their registration was announced.
Dr. Akol said neither party had been notified of any decision to alter its registered leadership. He questioned the authority of the PPC chairman to make the changes, citing the Political Parties Act. The dispute over the registration records centres on whether the PPC chairman had the authority to make the changes and whether the council followed the procedures required by law. The changes could have a direct impact on the parties' participation in the elections.
Dr. Akol said the changes could exclude some political actors from the forthcoming elections and called on President Salva Kiir and security institutions to intervene. SSNMC chairman Moro Isaac Genesio said his party's registration process started in 2021 and that it had followed the requirements set by the PPC, including paying a $10,000 registration fee. He accused the PPC chairman of acting outside his powers and said the dispute risked damaging public confidence in the electoral process.
The NDM and SSNMC said they had attempted to meet the PPC chairperson to seek an explanation but had been unable to do so. They called for Zakayo to step down, accusing him of abusing his office. The parties said they reserve the right to pursue legal action to restore their registration status, party names, and leadership. Efforts to reach PPC chairperson Eng. James Akol Zakayo for comment were unsuccessful.
Key points
- The dispute centres on whether the PPC chairman had the authority to alter the registration records of the parties.
- The changes could prevent the parties from contesting the December 22 elections under their registered names and leadership structures.
- The parties have called for PPC chairperson James Akol Zakayo to step down, accusing him of abusing his office.
