Radio Okapi Network

Along with its head studio in Kinshasa, Radio Okapi is a network of 9 radio stations scattered across the country, broadcasting across political and military boundaries. The stations feed information to the Kinshasa headquarters, providing material for a single programme which is then rebroadcast over different frequencies in each of the studios in the other towns. The network is served by satellite, short-wave and FM transmitters, and in order to reach the sizeable Congolese diaspora, it also broadcasts live on the internet with streaming audio versions of the network's programming. The programmes produced by Radio Okapi are distributed free of charge to local radio stations for rebroadcast. Since 2005, Radio Okapi has also worked to set up a network of 25 community radio stations. These stations also provide Radio Okapi with local information, and re-broadcast the national programmes produced by Okapi.

Programmes are designed to contain non-partisan, credible information broadcast throughout the country with a focus on issues such as health, education, human rights, and culture. News programmes are broadcast 3 times a day, 5 days a week in the 5 languages, with music, local reports and features, and national programmes filling the remainder of the broadcast time. According to Radio Okapi, they have also covered topics that had previously been prohibited such as student demonstrations, child soldiers, and reprisals. In its information and magazine programmes, Radio Okapi provides specific information on the activities of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, as well as about the United Nations’ mission to DRC, its priorities, the problems it is facing, and the peace process. In addition, Radio Okapi provides detailed coverage on the process of dialogue among the various political and military groups in the DRC.

The project employs more than 200 staff, including journalists, presenters, and technicians. The network seeks to represent and serve the public interest, by basing its activities in the community, recruiting most of its staff from the community, creating locally-produced programming for local and national audiences, and providing training to its staff to assure the long-term sustainability of a professional media.

The Radio Okapi website (in French) provides information about programming, as well as access to various language broadcasts.

Conflict, Health, Education, Rights.

The network was launched the same day that the inter-Congolese dialogue began in Sun City, South Africa. The Radio Okapi project involves co-operation with the existing media in the DRC, mainly with other radio stations, in the fields of production and training. In January 2002, just prior to the project's launch, David Wimhurst, a spokesperson for the UN's peacekeeping department, told Swiss Radio International's Roy Probert that the rationale for UN support for the project was based on the conviction that in post-conflict situations, reliable information is important. "The need for information is parallel to the need for food, shelter, water, health care and so. It can cut right through the rumours and the hostile propaganda that often swirl around and through conflict situations. The population generally doesn't know what to believe. So if we can get out precise information to everybody - one single clear story which is truthful - that is a net benefit to the peace process."