Two-way radio.

Radio Okapi offers objective reporting and has opened up dialogue against a background of conflict, says Franklin Moliba Sese, one of the station’s presenters.

See also: Truth, lies, and...

Turn on a radio anywhere from Bukavu to Uvira and you’re likely to hear this confident statement:

“Radio Okapi, breath of DRC.”

It is just one of the on-air slogans of the most-listened to radio station in the DRC.

Tens of millions of Congolese tune in daily to Radio Okapi which broadcasts from the capital, Kinshasa. Seven provincial stations, 19 relay antennas, and two short wave transmitters ensure much of the country is covered.

Not only is the station heard by a huge audience, it is also trusted by them: from the beginning it has reported the actual situation going on in the DRC. This has had a positive effect on the course of events over the last three years.

Ten years ago, the national radio and television network which covered the entire country fell victim to economic stagnation and political unrest, a prelude to the years of horror which were to follow. Unable to maintain its network, which had taken many years to put in place, it was taken over by belligerents in the armed conflict that began in 1996.

During this period of unrest, information was used as a weapon of war. Radio, television and newspapers served as a means to disseminate messages of hatred, propaganda and slander. The Congolese media did not differ much from the neighbouring Rwandan radio station “Mille Collines”, which back in 1994 urged Hutu listeners to go out and murder their Tutsi neighbours, to devastating effect.

After the Rwandan genocide, a group of Swiss journalists assessed the damage caused by partisan radio, and set up the Hirondelle Foundation which works for independent and professional media, notably in zones of conflict.

In the midst of the DRC’s troubled period – the Hirondelle Foundation became partners with the United Nations Peace Keeping Department (UNPKD). Radio Okapi was the child of this partnership, and is the largest radio project ever accomplished by the UN. Radio Okapi was set up as a radio for peace amidst war.

When the inter-Congolese dialogue began in Sun City, South Africa with a view to halting the war in DRC we gave 15-minute newscasts. These bulletins were covered by strict guidelines: only verified news could be broadcasted, and neither slander nor propaganda was allowed.

The DRC’s first ever political news magazine programme, “Dialogue among Congolese”, was initiated by Radio Okapi as way of offering interaction between the Congolese politicians participating in the Sun City dialogue. Named after the last Congolese political talks, the programme meant that Congolese belligerents for the first time were able openly to discuss

their ideas in a trusted forum. It was also the first time that the Congolese from the remotest areas of the DRC were informed live about ongoing political talks.

Amos Namanga Ngongi, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC, declared that the DRC – previously split between warring factions – was “electronically unified” thanks to Radio Okapi.

Since its creation the programme, which I present, has reported daily on major political events and has been been instrumental in the return of peace in DRC.

Here is an example. In November 2003, members of UDPS, the most popular political party in Kinshasa, attacked the deputy-chief of UNAFEC, another popular political party in Lubumbashi, the second city of DRC. The event made national headlines. This was potentially dangerous, because there is a history of animosity between the two parties – instances of clashes that were finally to lead to inter-ethnic massacre. A member of “Dialogue among Congolese” visiting Lubumbashi at the time, informed us that UNAFEC supporters were prepared for battle.

In our morning meeting, we decided to get the leaders of both parties to address a message of appeasement to their respective supporters. This they did, and their broadcast words helped defuse the tension at its peak in Lubumbashi.

Another magazine programme, “Okapi Action” has been designed to keep Congolese people company as they go about their daily activities. This programme puts human rights defenders, development and NGO experts together to answer live questions put by radio listeners. Radio Okapi presenter Nicole Ngaka introduces the show which plays a significant role in the DRC’s development.

Alongside Nicole Ngaka and myself, more than 100 Congolese journalists work under the supervision of foreign journalist colleagues and contribute to the professionalism – and hence credibility – of Radio Okapi.

A 2004 audience study showed that Radio Okapi is the station that is both most listened-to and the most trusted by Congolese people. The hope is that one day it will be entirely owned and run by the Congolese people.

In the meantime we approach a very critical period, for the country and for the station. As we enter the electoral process, there is, more than ever, a need for an independent radio that can objectively inform, train and educate a population that has not voted for over 40 years.