JUBA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's transitional unity government should speed up the unification and deployment of forces to pave the way for the registration of opposition parties with armed wings, peace monitors said Wednesday.

Charles Tai Gituai, chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission, the body that monitors the peace agreement, said opposition parties such as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance have been barred from registration.

"The Political Parties Act 2022 prohibits registration of political parties with armed wings. It is therefore essential for the parties to the agreement to expedite the completion of unification of forces to enable those currently with armed wings to register and participate in elections," Gituai said in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

He was speaking during the ongoing eighth Governors' Forum, an annual event that brings together governors of the 10 states to discuss issues of governance, security and the economy.

Gituai disclosed that as of June 30, 29 political parties had been fully registered by the Political Parties Council, one of South Sudan's electoral institutions.

He, however, noted that the exorbitant registration fees amounting to 75,000 U.S. dollars have barred some political parties from registering as the country prepares for the first-ever elections in December 2026.

According to Gituai, about 7,000 forces out of the 55,000 unified forces that graduated in August 2022 have so far been deployed.

"The rest of the organized forces have not been deployed. The unification of Phase II forces and the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration process have not yet commenced. The Strategic Defense and Security Review Board is yet to submit its validated policy documents to the principals. In addition, the unification of the mid-level echelon command is still pending," he said.

Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, said that they have identified six immediate action points that are critical for demonstrating political will and a collective commitment to implementing the peace agreement.

Haysom noted that these actions include the deployment of unified forces, starting Phase II of their joint training, and agreeing on the middle command structure, as well as making a start on civic education, commencing preparatory work for voter registration, and amending the National Security Services Bill to expand civic and political space. Enditem

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