USAP alleged that the Chairperson of the Political Parties Council, James Akol Zakayo, unlawfully removed the party’s legitimate leader, Joseph Malek, and replaced him with Prof. Ajang Bior without legal authority, consultation, or investigation.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Joseph Malek, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and chair of USAP, described the move as a dangerous overreach by a constitutional body mandated only to regulate political parties and oversee compliance with the law, warning that such actions risk undermining democratic governance and political independence in South Sudan.
“By declaring Prof. Ajang Bior as USAP Chairperson, the PPC has overstepped its constitutional limits and undermined the independence of political parties.”
According to Malek, the controversy stems from a letter reportedly issued by the PPC on January 26, 2026, declaring a change in the party’s leadership.
He insists the council acted outside its legal mandate, arguing that neither the Transitional Constitution nor the Political Parties Act grants the body powers to appoint or dismiss party leaders or interfere in internal political disputes.
“The Political Parties Council is mandated to register political parties and regulate compliance with the Political Parties Act, not to impose leadership or take sides in political disagreements,” he said.
He added that the matter was already before the court, claiming the judiciary had suspended the PPC’s decision pending further hearings.
“The decision by Akol has already been revoked by the court, and we are waiting for further hearings,” he said.
He accused the officials of pressuring PPC Chairperson Eng. James Akol to endorse Prof. Ajang Bior as party chairperson, calling the alleged interference “political bias at its worst” and warning that it threatens public confidence in democratic institutions.
He further alleged that senior government officials from Jonglei State, including Michael Makuei Lueth and Kuol Manyang Juuk, influenced the disputed decision through what he described as “community-based political pressure.”
He alleged that Minister Makuei privately instructed the dismissal of Joseph Malek and pressured PPC Chairperson Eng. James Akol to recognise Prof. Ajang Bior as the new party leader instead of allowing internal party procedures to take their course.
“These actions represent political bias at its worst and undermine the credibility of democratic institutions.”
In a document dated 26 January, signed by Zakayo and seen by Sudan Post, the ousted PPC Chairman formally wrote to Joseph Malek notifying him of the change in party officials from USAP pursuant to section (28) sub-section (1)(c) of the Political Parties Act, 2012, as amended 2022.
“The party has submitted form P.13 (notice of the change of office holders alongside certified minutes of the eight-member committee of the political bureau meeting held on 9 March 2028, which resolved to remove you from the position of chairperson. Therefore, be advised of the following official status: your name has been expunged from the register of political parties as the chairperson of USAP effective from 26 January 2026,” it said.
