The chairperson of the Political Parties Council (PPC) reaffirmed on Thursday the decision to maintain the USD 75,000 registration fee for political parties.
Earlier this week, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Justice Ruben Madol Arol, invalidated the USD 75,000 registration fee requirement set by the PPC.
In March, a coalition of 14 opposition political parties petitioned the PPC Chairman, James Akol, arguing that the USD 75,000 provisional registration fee was exorbitant.
After the PPC did not respond to the petition, Advocate Gabriel Kuot Akok, the legal counsel for the 14 political parties, notified the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of their intent to sue the PPC in the East Africa Court of Justice.
During the 35th RJMEC Plenary meeting on Thursday, James Akol Zakayo, the chairperson of the Political Parties Council (PPC), expressed his intention to meet with the Minister of Justice to discuss the USD 75,000 registration fees.
“We have not yet received an official copy of the recent decision by the Minister of Justice. If there are misunderstandings between the two institutions, they can be addressed through dialogue,” Akol stated.
He clarified that the decision to impose the USD 75,000 registration fees was approved by the Council of Ministers and is following the law.
“This regulation was passed by the council on 23 January and was based on studies conducted by the council, not a single individual’s decision,” Akol emphasized.
He further noted that the PPC already has regulations in place, adopted on 23 January, which served as the basis for announcing the registration fees. He urged for accurate information verification.
Akol revealed that the number of registered parties has increased to 27 from the initial 14. “We have added another 13 parties, bringing the total number of political parties in South Sudan to 27,” he stated. “They have all paid the prescribed fees according to the procedures.”