JUBA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's Political Parties Council (PPC) on Wednesday announced the registration of four pre-election coalitions, comprising 25 political parties, ahead of the country's scheduled general elections on Dec. 22.
James Akol Zakayo, chairperson of the PPC, confirmed that the four coalitions have met the requirements for entry in the council's register.
The approved blocs are the National Agenda Coalition of Political Parties (NAC), the Coalition of National Alliance of Political Parties (CNA), the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and the National Alliance of Political Parties (NAPP).
"The law says any coalition for the purpose of the upcoming election must be registered 60 days prior to the election," Zakayo told a press conference in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The NAC comprises 10 political parties, the CNA includes six, the SSOA holds five, and the NAPP consists of four parties, Zakayo said.
He urged the leaders of the 25 constituent parties to complete outstanding internal documentation, secure the required signatures and make the necessary legal deposits with the council's registry department by Thursday, the Oct. 22 deadline.
The Dec. 22 vote will be South Sudan's first general election since it gained independence in 2011. ■