Answers are needed on how the registration process for political parties was done

Some political parties including the largest opposition parties have been left out of the registration process by the Political Parties Council.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar Teny is not formally registered to be eligible to contest the much touted upcoming elections in December this year.

This rushed registration which closed on June 30^th, appears to have intentionally been designed to close out potential formidable opposition parties from the general election.

Some reports have suggested that the political parties council came up with a law that bars political parties such as the SPLM-IO with it’s armed wing SPLA-IO from registering, but none of the officials at the political parties has come forth to date clear the air on this.

The upcoming election if it takes place as stated could be a contest of the SPLM party with some briefcase parties friendly to it, and this could somewhat  make the election not competitive especially at the presidential vote.