Several South Sudanese from across the country say the radio is an important tool in promoting peaceful coexistence.
They spoke to Radio Tamazuj on World Radio Day, celebrated on February 13, under the theme “Radio and Peace”.
From Lakes State, Mathew Mayom Deng says, “Radio is one of the best tools which disseminate peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We urge radio reporters to report all types of news; bad and good news.”
“Radio has a big role in the community, and it helps in so many areas in making people informed about government developmental programs, entertainment, and it spreads the news,” Juzella NyanagarJima said.
“When Governor Rin Tueny Mabor was appointed, resolutions of peacebuilding and reconciliation in Lakes State were read on radio and everyone in the community heard them and that’s why now there is peace and stability in Lakes State. Radio also promotes traditional cultures like wrestling, entertainment, sports, and public health awareness in the community,”Philip Taban in Rumbek said
James Saba of Yei River County of Central Equatoria State said radio relieves his stress. “If you have trauma and you listen to the radio, it can heal the trauma. Radio can also update you on current events in the country something that can help in the future,” he said.
“Radio does a lot in terms of entertaining, educating and transforming, reconciling the communities because there are some issues that might happen like revenge attacks, tribalism and even issues to do with tribalism and such topics are brought forward for discussion in the radio and callers give their views about the topic and people tend to understand through the views of the callers,” Joseph Lukudu also in Yei said.
From Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, James Ohia George said: “The importance of radio to us here in South Sudan is you will know many things happening in the country but we don’t understand what is happening especially in places where people do not have a radio. Those with a radio can share the information they have heard with their neighbors. Our government should distribute solar radios so that people can access information.”
Another resident of Torit Attari Philip Alhaj Albino emphasized that radio promotes peace and also informs people about conflict.
“Radio gives us information about what is happening in the country, the region, and the world. It also tells us how to live together in peace. We can also know what the president has said, how things are done, and in case of conflict how we can protect ourselves,” Phillip said.
Julia Anthony said, “Radio brings us peace. I was undergoing some challenges but when I become a friend of the radio now it consoles me. I now feel every problem has a solution. I can now do business to help me, I used to be aggressive but now am okay.”
From Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Adual Mathar said, “Radio is important when it comes to peace because it brings and takes the news, everything is heard on the radio and without it, we would be in the dark. In the past, people used to talk on the radio about peace, and peace came but we are still looking for peace, and God will bring peace.”
On her part, Maria Abuk Dut, said all peace talks are followed on radios by local communities who have no access to the talks.
“People are discussing everything on radio and if there is no radio, there will be no opportunity for people in grassroots who don’t have time to attend peace talks to easily get what is said in the peace talks,” she noted.