Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The residents in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have expressed frustration as Akol Yam FM 91.0, which covers the whole state and some parts of Warrap State, went off air after its transmission tower was felled by storms on Sunday, barring citizens from getting news.
The strong winds and rain also brought down the tower of Nhomlau FM in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, which stopped operations in 2020 due to funding shortages.
Joseph Angok Mayath, a former Nhomlau FM listener who later shifted to Akol Yam 91.0, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that he left frustrated as he could not access broadcasts in the Dinka language.
“We now have no access to information because we used to listen to Akol Yam FM, which was affected by the storm over the weekend after the closure of Nhomlau in 2020,” he said. “Not all of us have access to Facebook or social media for news. However, we hope this local radio station goes back on air soon.”
For his part, Mawien Aher Bol, a regular listener of Akol Yam Radio, said the mishap left him and other residents in a news and information blackout.
“It will affect us negatively in terms of accessing news about what is going on in the nation, particularly us who live near the [Sudan] border,” he said.
For her part, Angelina Achol, the station manager of Akol Yam FM, said they are devastated by the incident.
“Yesterday [Sunday] at around 2:30 p.m., it started raining with heavy winds, and I got a call from the security guard at the station and rushed there to find the tower down,” she explained. “So, nothing is working now, and the radio is off air.”
According to Achol, Akol Yam FM is one of six community radio stations supported by The Radio Community (TRC) which was formed in 2015 with funded from Internews.
“We currently have no options because the cost for this tower to be set up is USD 200,000, and you know the situation in our country,” she said. “From January up to now, we have had no funding and only rely on program income for the fuel and other operations.”
Achol added that the station was the only channel through which the local communities received information about the cholera outbreak and other national issues, as it broadcasts in the local language.
“It is also a time when people are preparing for the elections, so I do not think people are going to receive information now unless we get funds to restore the tower,” she said.
Meanwhile, several civil society activists have urged the government and non-governmental organizations to step in to help the radio stations get back on air.
Edmund Yakani, a civil society activist and the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progressive Organization (CEPO), appealed to the concerned authorities and developmental organizations to support the radio since it is the only source of information for the citizens in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
“I would like to appeal to the state and national governments, people of goodwill, and developmental partners to help so that the radio is fixed,” he said.
Echoing the appeal, Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), said access to information is a fundamental human right.
“I urge the Government of South Sudan to invest in building and supporting community radio stations across the country because they play a critical role in reaching rural and underserved areas, providing timely and relevant information in local languages,” he said. “Strengthening this platform will help bridge the information gap and ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to be informed, engaged, and heard.”
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