Showdown looms as opposition parties protest $50,000 registration fees
A group of opposition parties plans to storm the offices of the Political Party Council (PPC) to petition the body in protest of the recently announced $50,000 registration fees.
Last week, the political parties turned the heat on the Political Parties Council (PPC) after they released the checklist of requirements, including $50,000 fees for registration. However, many unregistered parties have opposed this figure, describing it as unaffordable and unrealistic.
On Saturday, the chairperson of the Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP), Dr. Gai Chol, revealed that the parties will submit the petition to the PPC, to document its displeasure officially.
“We are pleased to inform you that the leaders of SSOA, COOP, UPP, and PSP will be delivering a petition against the newly imposed $50,000 fee by the Political Parties Council (PPC) leaders,” he stated, adding, “this is a critical issue that requires the attention of the public.”
Last week, the leadership of the Political Parties Council noted at a dialogue organised by the South Sudan Civil Society in Juba that registration fees for the political parties stand at $50,000 besides the other requirements.
The chairperson of the PPC, James Akol, defended the figure, saying parties with many members would have no problem raising the money for the registration.
“If you are a political party with many members, you will have no problem paying $50,000, but if your political party has four to five members and you lack resources, you will not manage to register. That is why some parties are finding it very difficult to meet the requirement,” he said.
Akol met instant criticism from the leader of NDM, Dr Lam Akol, who said that the PPC boss was not factoring in the reality that there are rich and poor parties.
“The political party’s council has no right to talk about the poor and the rich parties; it is not the business of the party’s council.”
Most of the political parties raised concern about the money, with some claiming that it was a deliberate move to bar them from registration and subsequent participation in the election.
Last week, the African People’s Congress (APC) issued a press release stating that demanding $50,000 to acquire a licence in South Sudan is a “blatant attack on democracy and an attempt to silence opposition voices.”
The chairperson of the CPA, Deng Bol Aruai, lamented that the registration fee imposed on the political parties was an attempt to impede their participation in the polls.
“It is saddening to find out that the PPC is charging $50,000 for a provisional licence and an additional $25,000 for a full and final registration, bringing the total to $75,000,” Deng said.
Early this year, the political party’s council announced the registration of the political parties ahead of the December election, giving conditions to meet the requirement.
It was noted that the political parties should provide a list of the party members authorised to sign the party documents on behalf of the party.
A political party that has only been provisionally registered shall not be entitled to participate in any election.
