Political Parties Council Confirms 39 Legal Entities for Elections

(JUBA) – Five more political parties have received full registration in South Sudan, taking the total number of legally recognised parties to 39 as preparations for national elections move forward, the Political Parties Council announced on 30 June 2026.

The five newly cleared parties are the IO Party, formerly known as the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, the National Democratic Movement, the People’s Liberal Party, the South Sudan National Movement for Change and the Revive South Sudan Party.

The Council stated that all five entities met the required legal, financial and regulatory benchmarks under the Political Parties Act after an exhaustive verification process.

In its resolutions, the Council formally recognised the renaming of the SPLM in Opposition to the IO Party, a move now recorded in the official registry to establish a distinct legal identity ahead of the coming electoral cycle. The Council also noted that the other four parties successfully passed final administrative clearances, allowing them to operate as fully recognised national political platforms.

The Chairperson of the Political Parties Council, James Akol, told a meeting on the progress of the peace agreement that 39 political parties are now legally registered in South Sudan. He said the registered parties have expressed readiness to take part in elections.

In a related development, SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the party’s Secretary General to reorganise the ruling party in preparation for the upcoming elections.

Speaking at the SPLM Leadership Summit at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Juba, President Kiir told party leaders that the country must move beyond the prolonged transitional period and prepare for polls. He noted that the electoral roadmap had been amended, separating the population census and permanent constitution making process from the elections, so that citizens can vote for their leaders.

President Kiir also called for reforms within the SPLM, urging the party to embrace merit based leadership and modern policies that reflect public expectations while keeping peace as the foundation of the party’s agenda.

The SPLM Chairman further directed that all appointments to government positions must be processed through the party’s internal structures. He said the practice of community based lobbying and private recommendations should stop, and that individuals seeking public office must be screened, vetted and recommended by the SPLM.

The summit brought together senior party leadership, including deputy chairpersons, the Secretary General and deputies, members of the Political Bureau and National Liberation Council, state party leaders, parliamentary and executive caucuses, and representatives of the SPLM leagues.

Registered Political Parties and Their Leaders