Bentiu Radio 99.0 F.M which was founded in 2008 is back on air after a seven-year hiatus occasioned by the South Sudan conflict which broke out in 2013.
The station broadcasts on both Frequency Modulation and Medium Wave frequencies and went off the air in January 2014 when Bentiu was severely affected by the conflict.
Deng Muon Liah, the director-general at the state ministry of Information told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that Bentiu 99.0 FM resumed short wave broadcasts on 26 February after tapping electricity from the hospital.
“The ministry was given a cable by the Greater Pioneer Oil Company in Unity State that connects the radio with the main hospital to have constant power for 24 hours,” Liah said.
He said the station works from 6 am to 1 pm and it resumes working from 2 pm to 11 pm but does not work on weekends because Bentiu Teaching Hospital does not work during weekends and this was the only challenge.
He urged the citizens to cooperate with the state government in information sharing to expedite development planning.
“This will help the citizens and the state government to disseminate the peace agreement and the constitutional making process in South Sudan,” he added.
Nyibuor Simon Manyang, a listener of Bentiu 99.0 FM, said that she loves peace messages, cultural songs, and programming which brings people together.
“My message to the people of South Sudan is that we are very happy to have our radio resume broadcasts that we need to maintain peace because we are one people and we have to stay together as one people,” she said.
Peter Gai Tek, a teacher, said that he benefits from the radio by getting information.
“It keeps us aware about issues that are happening in Unity State and also promotes many different things, especially culture, football, unity and peace, and education programs,” Gai said.
Riek Yoahnes Wayuk, a Unity State Youth union advisor said, “As a listener of Bentiu Radio FM, I am very thankful to the state government and the director-general of the state ministry of information and communication for having resumed broadcasts.”
Unity state had two radio stations before December 2013, including the Internews run Naath F.M in Leer County. Currently, Kondial 97.2 F.M, established by Internews as a humanitarian information service center and the Radio Farmer are currently the other surviving privately-owned radio stations in the state.