The uncertain future of Radio Dabanga

SUDAN

Radio Dabanga loses funding and risks closure. Radio Dabanga has been broadcasting for 17 years to Sudan on shortwave. Its aim is to inform the population of the Horn of Africa, and more especially the Darfur region, about the war and genocide ravaging the country.

For years, Radio Dabanga has been largely funded by the American development agency USAID. In early 2025, the U.S. government, as part 

of President Trump's "America First" policy, terminated operations and dramatically reduced nearly all foreign aid.

As a result, Dabanga has been deprived of its essential income since this year, fearing it may cease its activities at the end of the year.

Funding was provided by international donors from the diaspora and local NGOs, but USAID assistance was most important. She hopes to get financial aid from the Netherlands and the city hall of Amsterdam, her homeland.

It is in his offices in Amsterdam that journalists verify the information, by clippings, with official sources and by contacting other people who stayed in the country.

The programs are broadcast by MGLOB, the former relay of Radio Netherlands Worldwide in Talata-Volondry, on the island of Madagascar. Some programs are subcontracted by MGLOB at the Santa Maria di Gallera transmitter center in the Vatican. Due to the financial situation, she had to reduce her airtime from 2.5 hours a day to 1.5 hours.

Apart from shortwave, the station also has its own website, although access is difficult in Sudan. It also has, since 2014, its television channel on the satellite Eutelsat 8W B, allowing it to reach people living in urban areas of Sudan and decision-makers.

In Sudan at war and in great poverty, shortwave remain the most effective way. According to the editor-in-chief: "People often listen in groups, because they have only one radio." "They estimate that about 5 million Sudanese listen to it every week.

Page Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/dabangasudan/  Radio Dabanga-211 

Website and live TV: https://www.dabangasudan.org/

Call for donations: https://gogetfunding.com/radio-dabanga/

Times and frequencies:

http://www.short-wave.info/index.php?station=Radio%20Dabanga (subject to change)

Address: Weesperstraat 3 NL-1018 DN Amsterdam Netherlands

(Radio Magazine)

Clandestine station updates broadcast schedule

Radio Dabanga
Effective: 01 March, 2019

All times UTC

0430-0500 7315 via Issoudun, France 250 kW to EaAf Juba Arabic - unchanged
0430-0500 11650 via Talata Volonodry, Madagascar 250 kW to EaAf Juba Arabic, ex 9600 Meyerton, South Africa
1530-1600 on 15350 via Issoudun, France 250 kW to EaAf Juba Arabic, ex same Meyerton, South Africa
1530-1600 on 15550 via Santa Maria di Galeria 250 kW to EaAf Juba Arabic, ex Issoudun, France
(DXB)

Radio Dabanga targets programming to listeners in the Darfur area of Western Sudan. Occasionally broadcast may be jammed.
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en

Radio Dabanga - Is Darfur losing its media lifeline ?

The Amsterdam-based station sheds light on a region that the Sudanese government prefers to keep in the dark.


It's been more than 15 years since the conflict in Sudan's western region of Darfur began, but there is no end in sight to the violence. The Sudanese government continues its attacks on local rebel groups, who accuse President Omar Al-Bashir's administration of oppressing non-Arab communities and Darfur's civilian population.

But Khartoum's ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing, mass killings and sexual violence is no longer in the international spotlight - there is a media blackout, by design. As Sudanese journalist Shammal Al-Nur explains, "Today, the government claims categorically that there's no longer a crisis in Darfur and they want to control what news sees the light from this conflict zone. Journalists are not allowed to go there and Sudanese reporters are prohibited from discussing the security situation. For the media in Sudan, the crisis in Darfur is the pivotal issue that our news outlets refrain from tackling."

Additonal story at: Aljazeera-The Listening Post: https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2018/09/radio-dabanga-darfur-losing-media-lifeline-180901084935506.html

QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

Brazil, Clandestines and RUI Verified

Brazil - Rádio Cultura do Amazonas
Portuguese service - Listened in Morrinhos, CE, Brazil, by DX-Man José Maranhão, in July 03, 2015; between 0015 - 0035 UTC, on the frequency 4.845 KHz (OT - 60m.).SINPO: 45333 - Equipment utilized: Radio receiver Tecsun PL 660 and Antenna Long wire (12, 5 meters) - Received: QSL letter in 75 days by email.- Signed by Sr. Milton Xavier (Coordenador de jornalismos) - QTH: radiocultura@hotmail.com (José Maranhão‎ / DX SOCIETY)

Clandestine - Radio Dabanga
15550/ 15150 kHz. Full data colored logo card, unsigned. Received in 60 days from follow-up. QSL address: c/o Free Press Unlimited, Weesperstaat 3, 1018 DN Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Station wesite: http://www.freepressunlimited.org. Radio Tamazuj website: http://www.radiotamazuj.org (Gayle Van Horn W4GVH)

Clandestine - Radio Tamazuj

15150 kHz. Full data colored logo card, unsigned. Received in 60 days from follow-up. QSL address: c/o Free Press Unlimited, Weesperstaat 3, 1018 DN Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Station wesite: http://www.freepressunlimited.org. Radio Tamazuj website: http://www.radiotamazuj.org (Gayle Van Horn W4GVH)

United States - Radio Ukraine International via Okeechobee Florida
English service - Listened in Morrinhos, CE, Brazil, by DX-Man José Maranhão, in March 25, 2015; between 2330 - 0000 UTC, on the frequency 11580 KHz (SW -25m.). SINPO: 45333 - Equipment utilized: Radio receiver Tecsun PL 660 and Antenna Long wire (12, 5 meters) - Received: Only QSL full data in 189 days after sent RR by email.- Illegible signature. englishservice@nrcu.gov.ua
/ zhannam@nrcu.gov.ua / tstechak@nrcu.gov.ua (Daniel Wyllyans, Brazil)

Clandestine frequency updates

Frequency update for Radio Tamazuj and Radio Dabanga

Radio Dabanga

0430-0600 11645 SMG 250 kW / 146 deg to EaAf Sudanese Arabic, ex 11650

Radio Tamazuj
0400-0430 11645 SMG 250 kW / 146 deg to EaAf Sudanese Arabic, ex 11650
(Ivo Ivanov/11 May)

Radio Dabanga schedule update

update from previous post

Effective: 18 July 2011

Clandestine

Arabic
0430-0530 on 13620 MDC 250 kW / 330 deg to EaAf/Sudan, not 13730 0430-0500
0430-0530 on 15550 DHA 250 kW / 255 deg to EaAf/Sudan
0500-0600 on 13730 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to EaAf/Sudan
0530-0600 on 13620 NAU 500 kW / 155 deg to EaAf/Sudan
1530-1630 on 13730 MDC 250 kW / 330 deg to EaAf/Sudan
1530-1630 on 15720 WER 500 kW / 150 deg to EaAf/Sudan
(DX Mix News 687 via Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria)

Radio Dabanga to revise broadcast schedule

Dutch-based Radio Dabanga, which broadcasts to the Darfur region, will have a revised schedule as from Monday 18 July 2011:

0430-0527 UTC on 15550 kHz (Dhabayya 500 kW) and 13620 kHz (Madagascar 250 kW)
0430-0459 UTC on 13730 kHz (Madagascar 250 kW)
0459-0527 UTC on 13730 kHz (Wertachtal 250 kW)
0527-0557 UTC on 13620 kHz (Nauen 500 kW) and 13730 kHz (Wertachtal 250 kW)
1529-1627 UTC on 15720 kHz (Wertachtal 500 kW) and 13730 kHz (Madagascar 250 kW)
(Source: RNW Program Distribution/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Omdurman transmitter jams Radio Dabanga

In an article called ‘The Perils of Reporting in Sudan’, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting says “Meanwhile in Darfur and across the border in eastern Chad, the number of listeners who tune in to Radio Dabanga has mushroomed, causing a rush for radios in markets across the region.” The report goes on to say that “… the government does not welcome such broadcasts. It continues to try and block the signal, even taking the state-run Radio Omdurman off the air while Radio Dabanga is on, and using its transmitter to interfere with Dabanga’s shortwave frequency.”
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Additional story at: The Perils of Reporting in Sudan at:
http://iwpr.net/report-news/perils-reporting-sudan

Clandestine B10 frequency revisions

All times UTC

Germany
Clandestine
Radio Dabanga in Arabic via Media Broadcast:
1530-1630 13740 WER 500 kW 150 deg to Sudan
1630-1730 11615 WER 500 kW 150 deg to Sudan
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 9)



United Arabic Emirates
Clandestine
Frequency change of Radio Dabanga in Arabic from Nov. 7:
0430-0527 new freq 13590 DHA 250 kW 255 deg to Sudan, ex 13600 // 7315 ISS
0430-0557 13590 DHA 250 kW 255 deg to Sudan // 7315 ISS >>from Dec.1
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 9)

Uzbekistan
Clandestine
Frequency change of Radio Free Chosun in Korean to North Korea:
1500-1600 NF6225 TAC 100 kW 065 deg,ex7530 to avoid Radio Pakistan Urdu WS.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 9)
(DX Mix News # 650 via wb, Germany & Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria)

Clandestine, Radio Dabanga adjust frequencies

Via Madagascar

All times UTC

Frequency changes of Radio Dabanga in Arabic from Oct. 1:
0430-0527 new freq 13620 MDC 250 kW 330 deg to Sudan, ex 13600 // 13730 DHA
1530-1727 new freq 11510 MDC 250 kW 330 deg to Sudan, ex 11500 // 13730 WER
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 6)
(DX Mix News 645 via wb, Germany)

Radio Dabanga is conceived, operated and facilitated by Press Now in the Netherlands, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Press Now supports independent media in conflict regions and transition countries, with the air to promote the development of open and democratic societies. Programming is leased over facilities at Wertachtal, Germany and Talata Volon, Madagascar.

Correspondence may also be addressed to Press Now, to Leon Willems at willems@pressnow.nl
(Gayle Van Horn/World QSL Book)

'Shortwave radio still going strong in Darfur'

Researcher Graham Mytton presents results of Radio Darfur listener survey
From Press Now

Research shows that Darfuri listen en masse to radio broadcasts via the short-wave band. 95% of the population over the age of 15 listen to the radio at least once a week. Over 70% of the people in Darfur listen at least once a week to Radio Dabanga, the Darfuri name for Radio Darfur. Mytton: ‘This research shows that short-wave radio is a very powerful medium in Darfur.’

After the state radio Omdurman – which broadcasts the entire day – Radio Darfur is the most popular radio station in terms of listeners. Asked which station people tune into to listen to the news, 39% states Radio Dabanga. Furthermore, it turns out that the questioned Darfuri primarily listen to the radio at times when Radio Dabanga transmits its broadcasts, from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. and from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Graham Mytton, formerly head of Media Research at the BBC and presently working as an independent media researcher, was commissioned by Press Now to conduct research into the listening behaviour of the Darfuri. The survey was held immediately after Ramadan, from September to the end of November 2009. The first results came in three days ago. The survey was held among 1,582 respondents over the age of 18 from all over Darfur, both men and women. The remarkable thing is that men and women listen in equal measure to the radio. ‘I have never seen that, nowhere in Africa – it’s usually a male affair,’ says Mytton, who has led numerous media studies in Africa. ‘The preliminary results are very good for Radio Dabanga.

Graham Mytton presented these provisional survey results yesterday evening in Desmet Studios, Amsterdam, during the celebration of Radio Darfur’s first anniversary.
The data presented by Mytton concerned provisional results that will still be supplemented further. The full research report will be rounded off around 1 January 2010.
(NASB Dec 09 via Dan Elyea)

Radoi Dabanga adds English news to website

Radio Dabanga, the independent station broadcasting to Darfur with the support of the Dutch NGO Press Now, has added English translations of its news items on its website. Andrew Stroehlein, Communications Director for the International Crisis Group, writes on Reuters AlertNet: “I’m very glad Press Now has added these English updates, not just for the selfish reason that I can finally read their output, but also because information from the ground really is needed, particularly right now, when the situation is evolving more quickly than it has been for a while.”
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
http://www.radiodabanga.org/

Radio Dabanga adds new frequency

Starting March 3, Radio Dabanga will use an additional frequency of 9830 kHz from Wertachtal, Germany in parallel with 7315 and 13800 kHz for its daily broadcasts to the Darfur region of Sudan at 0430-0527 UTC.
(Media Network Weblog)