The approval was announced on Tuesday after the council held what it described as a decisive ordinary session to review compliance profiles, financial verifications and regulatory clearances for political parties seeking formal legal recognition.
According to the PPC, the council approved the registration of the IO Party, formerly known as the SPLM-IO, alongside four other political parties after concluding an extensive verification process conducted in accordance with the Political Parties Act.
In its statement, the council said it had “officially approved and endorsed the full registration” of the IO Party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Dr Lam Akol, the People’s Liberal Party (PLP), the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), and the Revive South Sudan Party (RSSP).
The PPC also confirmed that the former SPLM-IO had completed its legal transition to the IO Party.
“The Council has formally recognized and recorded the structural transition of the ‘SPLM-In-Opposition’ to its newly approved legal nomenclature, the IO Party. This name change has been codified in the official registry to ensure a distinct, separate legal entity ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle,” the statement said.
Besides the rebranding of the SPLM-IO, the council said the four newly registered parties had met the legal requirements for recognition.
“By successfully meeting the regulatory benchmarks and navigating the final June administrative windows, the NDM, PLP, SSNMC and RSSP are now fully cleared to operate as legally recognized national political platforms,” the statement added.
The latest registrations come as South Sudan steps up preparations for its long-awaited general elections, which will be the first since the country gained independence in 2011. Under the Political Parties Act, political organizations must be legally registered by the PPC before participating in the country’s electoral process.
