The Political Parties Council for southern Sudan was officially launched in Juba today.

In his introductory remarks, Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, noted the importance of the Political Parties Council, and also said,

“We have just arrived from Khartoum. We have been involved in a lot of activities pertaining to the election itself. I have just come from briefing the president of GoSS. I want to assure you that the elections are on. There has been debate lately, sometimes even misquoting the SPLM. We are committed to the elections as scheduled by the NEC. We want to assure you that the process, for which this PPC process will be very useful, is on. Let me repeat, the elections are on.”

The chairperson of the newly-established Political Parties Council (PPC), Sandra Bona Malwal, introduced the PPC, its subcommittees (for complaints and outreach) and its plan for extending its work to the states. She outlined four immediate objectives for the PPC, namely outreach, hearing complaints, extending the work to the states, and creating and sustaining inter-party dialogue. She said she was proud that it was in Juba that the first Sudanese Electoral Code of Conduct was signed, and in Juba that the Political Parties Council was formed. Sandra also emphasized the neutrality and impartiality of the members of the PPC.

President Thabo Mbeki, Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan declared the Council launched. He explained that the PPC was the crucial mechanism in translating the Electoral Code of Conduct from a piece of paper to a real mechanism. He congratulated the people of southern Sudan and the political parties on their leading role.