Southern Sudan’s first public service radio on air

With the support of MS Sudan, the people in greater Yei area in Southern Sudan can now listen to public service radio. Local news is broadcasted daily from one of the area’s commercial radios but the dream is for them to have their own radio station.

- Wellcome listener. Here is the news from greater Yei area, my name is Sabrik Lokiko …

It is a few minutes past nine in the evening and the local news have just gone on the air. A few days ago, the presenter finished his first training as a journalist and he is now part of the team behind Southern Sudan’s first public service radio. The news was taped in the afternoon and it will be broadcasted three times in the next 16 hours.

For six weeks, 19 men and women from the greater Yei area have attended an intensive course in journalism. Now, the reporters have returned to their own areas and every afternoon, they report today’s stories through a cell phone to the presenter in Yei.

The idea of a public service radio comes from the politicians of Yei River, Morobo and Lainya Counties. The radio is supported by MS Sudan and Danish Refugee Council.

- People do not know enough about what happens in the counties. The lack of knowledge gives rise to rumours, insecurity and problems, says Col. David Lokonga Moses, the commissionaire in Yei River County.

He points to the fact that it is not possible to build a democratic society in this way.

- Therefore, we need a public service radio.

Impartial radio
According to the rules and regulations of the radio, it must be impartial regarding politics, social issues and religion. The governing body did not doubt that this was necessary. However, the name of the station is still being discussed.

The 19 new journalists have been trained by a Danish journalist, Vibeke Rask Grøn.

- One of the greatest challenges has been to teach the journalists to recognise and find stories in their daily lives, to be curious, to wonder and to ask questions. Another thing we have worked on is the question of who we should direct our questions towards. For a long time, the journalists always wanted to address the government. Now, we are doing better and we have more varied sources in the news, Vibeke Rask Grøn says.

Freedom of press with responsibility
The interim constitution of Southern Sudan builds on the UN human rights principles and according to the constitution, there is freedom of speech and press in Southern Sudan. However, this is not always the reality.

At the opening of the course, the politicians talked in favour of freedom of press with responsibility and freedom of speech for everyone regardless of party colour and ethnic background – in the name of democracy.

- My hope is that they will keep their promise and that this radio project will form a step in the right direction towards democracy, Vibeke Rask Grøn says.