South Sudan revokes controversial political parties’ registration fees

JUBA – South Sudan’s justice minister Ruben Madol Arol on Monday revoked fees deemed “exorbitant” for political party registration, which had been imposed by the Political Parties Council (PPC).

In March, the PPC initiated a $50,000 fee for a provisional license and an additional $25,000 for full registration, bringing the total cost to $75,000.

These fees were met with immediate opposition from at least 14 political parties who rejected them as a significant barrier to participation in the upcoming elections, describing them as “exorbitant fees”.

In April 2024, opposition political parties filed a complaint with the Justice Minister through their lawyer, Gabriel Kuot Akok Deng, challenging the legality of the registration fees.

According to an order seen by Reuters, Minister Arol declared the decision by the chairperson of the Political Parties Council to impose these exorbitant fees illegal.

The order stated that the decision was “illegal and unlawful” as it was based on the Political Parties Council Regulation of 2024, a regulation which is “still under amendment and not yet signed into regulation.”

The order further clarified that the applicable regulation is the Political Parties Council Regulation of 2015, which remains in force until the new regulation is officially signed.

Minister Arol asserted that the Political Parties Council’s decision violated the 2011 Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (as amended), the Political Parties Act (2012, amended), and the Bank of South Sudan Act (2011).

South Sudan is expected to go to the polls at the end of this year. If successfully conducted, it would be the first election for the world’s youngest nation since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

However, significant concerns remain regarding the feasibility of conducting credible elections this year.

Several key provisions of the revitalized peace agreement, which are intended to create a conducive environment for elections, are yet to be implemented.

These outstanding provisions include the establishment of a permanent constitution, the unification of the security sector, the completion of a population census, and the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

South Sudan’s most powerful international allies, including the United States, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the European Union, have cast doubt on the possibility of elections happening as planned.

They have cited unmet promises of reforms and the incomplete implementation of tasks necessary for conducting credible elections.

The opposition, including the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar, have also expressed concerns, and suggested an extension of at least two years.

They argue that most of the peace agreement remains unimplemented and that more time is needed to create the necessary conditions for conducting fair and inclusive elections.