Today, Tuesday, 13 February, as the globe wakes up to celebrate World Radio Day, South Sudanese citizens, journalists, civil society groups and politicians among others in the Bahr el Ghazal Region have said that radio remains an outstanding medium through which they get news, information, and entertainment.
In 2011, the Member States of UNESCO proclaimed February 13 World Radio Day (WRD) and it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as a UN International Day.
Eduard Ugwak, a citizen in Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal State said that radio will remain a source for news and events that that take place in South Sudan because of its affordability and due to poor internet penetration in the country.
“Radio will not be ignored because it is the main source of news although people access news through other technologies like the internet,” he said. “Sometimes the internet develops connection problems while radio is affordable for everybody and some people do not have access to the internet.”
For Rose Ibrahim Akoon, a journalist who works for Aweil Radio, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, radio remains the main tool for news in local communities. She says local communities are unable to purchase smartphones, and computers and afford or access the internet for alternative news and entertainment sources.
“Radio has a great effect in the community and the technology is also still good for intellectuals and educated people but the role of radio is outstanding because our communities are unable to purchase smartphones and computers and access the internet,” she stated. “Radio brings all the information to local communities who are disconnected from the internet and our local people are happy with our radio station because it broadcasts in local languages, providing news and information about events happening in Juba and elsewhere.”
The Director-General for Aweil Radio and TV Corporation, Bakheit Garang Akech, commended the usage of radio alongside other media channels and revealed that the radio has also developed in the present era of emerging technologies.
“Radio is still useful in the face of new technology that is why radio and other channels such as television have developed and people can now access them through web links that can be found on the internet,” he said. “That means radio has gained ground in the present era.”
Meanwhile, according to Deng Bol Athuai, the Security Adviser in the Abyei Administrative Area, radio has a great role in providing accurate news about conflicts around the world and disseminating developmental programs on social and economic activities.
“We consider and celebrate the importance of radios such as Radio Tamazuj that broadcast news and social and economic programs plus their other roles in covering conflicts and informing people around the world on what is happening in a given area,” said Bol.
For his part, the leader of civil society in Warrap State, Bona Malual, said radio has a great impact because it is the only source for news about what is happening in the country, region, and the world for the vast majority of people in South Sudan.
“The media is important in any country and radio particularly, is one of the most important mediums, because most people get all their information on the radio,” he explained. “You cannot get any news about what is happening in South Sudan and other countries until you switch on your radio.”