Radio Dabanga Faces Funding Shortfall Amid Sudan Conflict
Radio Dabanga, an independent Sudanese news station operating from Amsterdam, reduced its morning broadcast services earlier this year due to budget shortfalls. The station's editor-in-chief, Kamal Elsadig, noted that this change led to immediate feedback from Sudanese listeners who rely on the station for information. Reports from refugee camps in Chad and within Sudan indicated listener dependence on Radio Dabanga for updates on family and regional developments.
Broadcasting from exile since 2008, Radio Dabanga is a primary source of verified information for millions of Sudanese citizens affected by an ongoing civil conflict. The station's future has become uncertain following reductions in U.S. foreign assistance programs initiated earlier this year. U.S. aid previously constituted over half of the radio's approximately $3 million budget, necessitating cuts to staff, freelancers, and broadcast services.
Impact of the Conflict on Information Access
Sudan's conflict, which began in 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis. Data from the Norwegian Refugee Council indicates that 150,000 people have been killed and approximately 14 million Sudanese displaced. Accurate statistics are challenging to obtain due to ongoing conflict and severe hunger in parts of the country.
Access to information within Sudan is limited. According to Free Press Unlimited, an Amsterdam-based press freedom organization, approximately 90% of media infrastructure in Sudan has been destroyed. Over 400 journalists have reportedly fled the country, and more than a dozen journalists and media workers have been killed or kidnapped, as per the Committee to Protect Journalists. This situation has led to restricted information access within Sudan.
Radio Dabanga journalists in Amsterdam report on key events, including conflict zones, disease outbreaks in refugee camps, and the aftermath of reported atrocities, such as those in el-Fasher.
Station History and Context
Kamal Elsadig founded Radio Dabanga in 2008, establishing it as an independent radio station for Darfur. Darfur was central to a conflict between the government-backed Arab Janjaweed militia and African ethnic groups in 2003 and 2004. The U.S. government and human rights organizations have classified this violence as genocide. In October, the International Criminal Court in The Hague convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman, a Janjaweed leader, of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Observers have noted similarities between the current conflict and past events. The Rapid Support Forces, which originated from the Janjaweed, are currently accused of mass killings, sexual violence, and starvation sieges in western and central Sudan. Given the limited access to information, Radio Dabanga's continued operation is considered significant by its listeners.
Fundraising Efforts
Recent fundraising efforts to support Radio Dabanga have taken place. In Amsterdam, Jean-Pierre Fisher, a co-founder of Marimba Amsterdam, organized a fundraiser. The event, held during the Amsterdam Dance Event, aimed to raise awareness about the situation in Sudan and support Radio Dabanga's operations.
Attendees included Sudanese sisters Maaza and Amany Altareeh, who are asylum seekers in the Netherlands. They highlighted the difficulties in communicating with family members in Sudan due to internet and satellite communication disruptions. Maaza Altareeh noted the importance of Radio Dabanga as a reliable information source amidst general uncertainty regarding news accuracy on social media platforms.
Initial fundraising efforts have generated several thousand dollars. However, the station faces a budget shortfall of approximately $1.5 million, with its current budget projected to last until April. While the online website may continue, editor-in-chief Elsadig emphasized that most Sudanese listeners rely on radio broadcasts. He stated the station's determination to continue its efforts despite the challenges.