Republic of South Sudan

According to a research report, Light in the Darkness, the network of FM radio stations in South Sudan established and supported by Internews are the most important sources of information in their communities.

Internews began working in South Sudan in 2006, soon after a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed which ended decades of civil war between the North and the South. Today, Internews’ network has six radio stations; all located in remote, strategic locations, with two in the transitional border areas and others near the future North/South border. Mayardit FM in Turalei, Warrap State reaches the contested region of Abyei.

Because the stations are located in areas where resources such as trained journalists and electricity are scarce, Internews has trained novice journalists and powered stations with solar and wind. The network broadcasts to an estimated 1.7 million listeners. After the historic January 2011 referendum, and as South Sudan approaches independence in July 2011, the stations will focus on meeting the information (and entertainment) needs of their local communities, in local languages.