In a public notice issued on 1 June, the council said all aspiring political parties must complete their registration by 30 June 2026 to qualify for participation in the country’s planned elections.
“The Political Parties Council (PPC) advises all aspiring political groups of the upcoming regulatory timeline for the 2026 General Elections,” PPC Chairperson James Akol Zakayo said.
The council clarified that while political party registration remains open throughout the year, only parties registered before the June 30 deadline will be eligible to contest in the 2026 elections.
According to the notice, “General Registration remains a continuous, ongoing process,” but the “Election Cut-Off Date is June 30, 2026,” which serves as the strict deadline for election eligibility.
Mr. Zakayo urged political groups that have not yet completed the registration process to act quickly.
“All aspiring political parties must expedite and submit their registration applications before June 30, 2026,” the notice stated.
The announcement comes as South Sudan intensifies preparations for what is expected to be a pivotal electoral process, with political parties stepping up activities ahead of the planned polls.
In a separate directive issued on the same day, the PPC instructed all registered political parties to submit their audited financial statements for the 2025/2026 financial year.
“The Political Parties Council (PPC) hereby notifies all registered political parties to submit their audited books of accounts for the Financial Year 2025/2026 to the PPC within the first week of July 2026,” the council said.
The council added that it would subsequently publish an annual report on the audited accounts in the Official Gazette.
South Sudan is currently operating under an extended transitional period established under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
In September 2024, the transitional government postponed elections from December 2024 to December 2026, citing the need for additional time to complete key benchmarks, including the drafting of a permanent constitution, a national census, voter registration, and the implementation of security arrangements.
