South Sudan Registers Four Coalitions Ahead of Elections

South Sudan’s Political Parties Council has registered four pre-election coalitions comprising 25 parties ahead of the upcoming general polls. The election, scheduled for December 22, will be the country’s first since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The National Agenda Coalition is the largest with ten parties, followed by the Coalition of National Alliance of Political Parties with six, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance with five, and the National Alliance of Political Parties with four. Council chair James Akol Zakayo confirmed that the groups had met registration requirements. He urged them to complete outstanding documentation, obtain required signatures, and make legal deposits by October 22. The alliances could strengthen smaller parties’ electoral coordination, although their ability to compete effectively will depend on organizational readiness and the broader electoral environment.