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)

Deutsche Welle, winter schedule

 

Germany, Deutsche Welle - B24

Effective: 27 October 2024 - 29 March 2025

All times UTC

All broadcast targeted to Africa

Amharic

1600-1700  Daily  11830  15275  (targeted to Ethiopia, via Issoudn, France)

Arabic

1215-1300  Wed  15390  17570  (targeted to Sudan, via Issoudun, France)

1830-1900  Wed  11830  15275  (targeted to Sudan, via Nauen, Germany)

(DW)  

BBC World Service launches service to Sudan

 

Crisis Radio Alert: BBC World Service launches emergency pop-up radio service for Sudan on shortwave: 0700 UTC 21510 kHz and 1500 UTC 15310 kHz. #Sudan

Sudan's military dissolves the country's transitional government

 

(photo via Wikipedia)

Sudan's military dissolves the country’s transitional government and declares a state of emergency

Army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced a state of emergency in Sudan hours after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was placed under house arrest along with other senior government officials, according to local media. The arrests come after a failed coup attempt in September and weeks of rising tensions between Sudan’s civilian and military leaders, the AP reported. Protesters took to the streets in Khartoum, with reports of gunfire and injuries.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1452602086940573701

(video via AFP)

Three people were killed after Sudan's military seizes power in a coup

By Khalid Abdela

KHARTOUM, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Sudan's military seized power from a transitional government on Monday, and soldiers killed at least three people and wounded 80 as street protests broke out against the coup.

The leader of the takeover, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, dissolved the military-civilian Sovereign Council that had been set up to guide the country to democracy following the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising two years ago.

Additional story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/military-forces-arrest-senior-civilian-figures-sudan-al-hadath-tv-2021-10-25/ 

Recorded video of SRTC/Sudan Radio, 25 October 2021

7205 kHz with Arabic programming. Speech with several references to Sudan 

1806-1811:30 UTC

Shortwave Central YouTube link at: https://youtu.be/6IXhRM5ucQk

Thank you for your 'thumbs-up,' and for subscribing to my channel.

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)

Sudan on shortwave

Sudan

All times UTC      *sign-on/ sign-off*

Radio Omdurman Sudan in Arabic Oct 18:
0200-0500 7200 ALF 100 kW 000/090 to EaAF, ex0200-0400. (Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 18)

Saut Afrikya min Idaa-tu Sudanya / La Voix du Soudan, Radio National du Soudan in Arabic/French and announcement in Somali or Swahili Oct 18:
0500-0800 9505 ALF 100 kW 270 deg to NoAF, ex 0400-0700
(Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via dswci DXW via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 18)

SUDAN/SWAZILAND/IRAN 9505 Omdurman Al Fitahab. Heard both at 1700 with Horn of Africa music under co-channel IRIB Iran in Armenian 1630-1727, and in the clear later the night, but low modulated signal, I used earphones to understand the transmission.

9499.984 Next door channel TWR Manzini Swaziland in Amharic at 1721, Oct 18. Endless talk on S=9+20dB signal level. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 18)

9505 R Omdurman, Al-Aitahab, Khartoum* (100 kW 090 degrees), 0230-0730v, Oct 15, new frequency in Arabic to East Africa, ex7200 non-directive to Central Africa: very strong QRM 0330-0430 from Adventist World Radio in Farsi 7200 kHz. (Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via dswci DXW via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 18)

* but to clarify these of Omdurman and Khartoum locations. Is still a puzzle? Al-Aitahab is registered with ITU for decades.

To clear the shortwave services location at A l - A i t a h a b , according Google or Bing maps:
Shortwave services of Radio Omdurman and Saut Afrikya min Idaa-tu Sudanya / La Voix du Soudan, Radio National du Soudan location at the westerly banks of the Nile river, near the Abu Se'id bridge.

Visible few shortwave antennas: 3 non-dir vertical cone rhombic antenna. Three revolving horizontal log-periodic antennas.
15 35 10.22 N 32 26 42.42 E
http://goo.gl/maps/l8sHV
http://binged.it/VfLdl9

However the medium wave and former shortwave service site is located 23 kilometers easterly on the Khartoum S o b a site. 2 MW masts of 747 and 963 kHz installations visible til 2006/2008. Two fountain like former non-directional 4995/5039 kHz 60 meterband antennas. And 11 SW dipols and
some log-periodics for - probably - press agency services and other utility antenna installations for Department of State or Ministry of Defence, also
...
15 28 18.44 N 32 37 35.73 E

see GE image of 20 Oct 2004.
former MW mast location in 2004y to Febr 2008y
15 28 22.16 N 32 37 49.95 E
former MW mast location in 2004y to Jan 2006y
15 28 20.48 N 32 37 32.15 E

Puzzle ?
Or the use of short-wave on reversed location, so did come from formerly from Soba site til Febr 2008? And registration at call 'ALF' was left unchanged at the ITU before?

In 2005y "...4995, 6150, 7200, 9505, 11835 and 15170 kHz", as read on Danish sw Club International/DX Window item, so the 11 curtains at Soba used til 2008?

And now in use these revolving log-periodic antennas at Omdurman Al-Aitahab? (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 18)

9505.01 Radio Omdurman, Al-Aitahab, Khartoum (100 kW 270 degrees), at *1624-1906*v UT, Oct 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15, new frequency in Arabic to North Africa, ex7200 kHz non-directive to Central Africa (no longer heard), Sudanese songs, but rather weak undermodulated audio signal. Much fluttery, SINPO 32332. Interference from Iran's VOIRI from *1627. When Radio Omdurman still had its external service in year 2005, it used these frequencies: 4995, 6150, 7200, 9505, 11835 and 15170 kHz. (Bueschel, Ivanov, Ritola, Petersen and Van Arnhem, all in Danish SW Club Int'l/DX Window  Oct 17)

11650 Radio Omdurman, Al-Aitahab, Khartoum (presumed), at 1400-1500, on Oct 02, a new program with African music and several times ann in Arabic: "Saut Afrikya min Idaa-tu Sudanya" and in French: "La Voix du Soudan, Radio National du Soudan" was being broadcast. There were ann in a third language too, probably in Somali/Swahili.

15725 Radio Omdurman, Al-Aitahab, Khartoum (pres), at 0500-0600 UT Oct 02, as 11650 kHz.
(Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via Danish SW Club Int'l/DX Window via WWDXC/TopNews Oct 17)

Current schedule of Radio Omdurman Sudan in Arabic:
v0200-0400v on 7200 ALF 100 kW / 000/090 to EaAf, confirmed on Oct.15/16
v1500-1600v on 7200 ALF 100 kW / 000/090 to EaAf, confirmed on Oct.15
v1900-2100v on 7200 ALF 100 kW / 000/090 to EaAf, confirmed on Oct.15

And currently schedule of new program with announcements: "Saut Afrikya min Idaa-tu Sudanya" in Arabic and "La Voix du Soudan,Radio National du Soudan" in French. Also announcement in third language, probably Somali or Swahili:
v0400-0700v NF 9505#ALF 100 kW / 270 deg to NoAf, confirmed on Oct.15/16
v1600-1900v NF 9505*ALF 100 kW / 270 deg to NoAf, confirmed on Oct.15
# till 0426 very strong co-ch from Adventist World Radio in Persian
* 1630-1726 very strong co-ch from Voice of Islamic Rep.of Iran in Armenian
* 1800-1856 QRM from Radio Romania International in German DRM mode on 9495
73! Ivo
(W. Bueschel/Ivo Ivanov/HCDX)

Sudanese anti-government group launches station on shortwave

A Sudanese anti-government youth group announced on Thursday that it has launched a radio station on shortwave frequencies across the country in order to drum up support for regime change, a bold bid to challenge state control over broadcast media outlets in the country. Worsening economic conditions manifested in sharp increases in food prices compounded by a glum mood following the secession of the oil-producing south in a referendum held last January have stoked dissent in north Sudan. A clutch of anti-government youth groups have emerged and are actively attempting to galvanize support for a popular uprising against the 22-years old rule of President Omer Al-Bashir government inspired by current revolts in the region.

However, their few attempts to stage anti-government protests over the last two months had failed to take on a mass appeal and were swiftly squashed by the authorities. One youth opposition group known as Youth for Change, the shorthand of which is Shararah [Arabic for spark] has taken the battle to a whole new level by announcing the launch of its radio programming on shortwave across the country. Breaking the news via a statement on its Facebook-based page, Shararah said its radio broadcasts would start on shortwave frequencies across the country as of Thursday, March 31. According to the group’s statements, the radio programming would be broadcast every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for 30 minutes starting at 6:30 pm [1530 UTC] and can be heard on 15540 kHz.

“We urge our listeners in all parts of Sudan to follow our broadcasts and provide us with information on whether our broadcasts have reached all [target] areas” the group’s statement said. “The service will cover all parts of Sudan in a continuation of the tremendous efforts exerted by different segments of the society, especially youth groups, in order to get rid of the [National Islamic] Front regime to extricate Sudan from this dark abyss,” the statement added. The group further asked those wishing to contribute to the radio or send audio materials to contact it through the following e-mail: syr.radio@gmail.com

It is not clear whether Shararah radio’s broadcasts will be relayed from inside or outside the country, but Sudanese authorities have in the past successfully blocked the operation of radios it deemed hostile to the government, especially in the densely-populated Khartoum state. Unlike print-media which enjoys relative freedom in Sudan, broadcast media is tightly controlled by the state and heavily regulated by the National Telecommunication Corporation, which also filters and monitors internet content. There are 16 radio stations broadcasting on FM frequencies in the capital Khartoum, almost all of them focus their programming exclusively on entertainment, religious affairs or sport.

(Source: Sudan Times/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Shortwave Blog Bytes

All times UTC

Propagation tutorial
Here is and excellent tutorial on LF and HF radiowave propagation written by Steve G0KYA and Alan G3NYK: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2010/propagation_ebook.htm . I endorse it 100% .
(Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O, Lakeland, FL, USA)

Radio Canada Int'l adjust frequency
Via U.K. in French from Nov 11:
1900-2000 new freq 9510#SKN 300 kW 177 deg to Africa, ex 9670 to avoid NHK/Radio Japan in Japanese.
# co-ch 1930-2000 Sat BVBN in French and Adja to WeAF
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 13/DX Mix News 651)

Sudan raids radio station reporting on Darfur
By Rebecca Hamilton
Thursday, November 11, 2010

At a market stall in southern Sudan, Darfuri trader Omer Saleh, 45, turned up the volume on his small battery-operated radio. Radio Dabanga, he said - the Dutch-based service that transmits Darfur news by local journalists through shortwave frequencies into Sudan - "is the only way I can know what is happening at home."
Additional story at Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007123.html
(Arnaldo Slaen, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Vanuatu heard on parallels
Radio Vanuatu noted on 7260, November, 12 0754-0805. Pop music, female in English talks “Radio Vanuatu..week end.” Romantic music, short tribal music, male talks. Noted on parallel 3945, SINPO 33333 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil/Cumbre DX)

WWCR adjust frequency
USA WWCR#1 in English from Nov 7:
2100-0100 new freq 7465 WCR 100 kW 046 deg, ex 3255
0100-0200 new freq 7490 WCR 100 kW 046 deg, ex 3255
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 13/DX Mix News 651)

VOA launches special broadcast to Sudan

VOA has launched special broadcasts to Sudan and created a content-rich website on elections
Washington, D.C., March 10, 2010 – The Voice of America (VOA) has launched special broadcasts to Sudan and created a content-rich website on elections more than a month before Sudanese are to vote in the country’s first free presidential contest since 1986.

“The people of Sudan suffered through years of civil war. Now, they’re getting a chance to vote in elections. VOA wants to make sure they have all the information they need to make informed choices,” said Steve Redisch, VOA’s executive editor.

VOA’s “Sudan Elections in Focus” website http://www.voanews.com/sudan contains stories about the candidates, analysis and commentary by bloggers, details about election preparedness and logistics.

Every Friday in March, VOA will air a 10-minute special report on the English-to-Africa stream. Programs examine the candidates, their platforms, electoral preparedness, and the ongoing conflicts over land and resources in Africa’s largest country. It can be heard at 1645 UTC and 1845 UTC on VOA shortwave frequencies 6080 and 15580. Starting in April, the Sudan special report will air every day.

The presidential elections pit Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir against South Sudan’s President Salva Kir. The elections are proscribed under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended 20 years of civil war between the North and the South when it was signed in 2005. Also at stake in the election are seats in Parliament.

In 2011, Sudanese are scheduled to conduct a referendum that would allow South Sudan to secede from the North. The referendum, also part of the 2005 peace deal, is a source of tension between the North and the South.
(VOA)

Radio Peace adjust shortwave frequency

Radio Peace Technical Team to Make Frequency Change

Spotsylvania, Virginia, July 28, 2009 - During a routine maintenance and resupply trip this week, the Radio Peace technical team plans to fine tune both of the transmitters which carry Christian broadcasts to tens of thousands of people in South Sudan, southern Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and North Sudan. In the process, engineer Livingstone Kiniaru will change the frequency of the 4750 kHz shortwave transmitter to 4740 kHz to avoid an interference problem that has been created by another broadcaster in the neighboring country of Uganda. This rather simple adjustment will allow the Radio Peace programs to be heard clearly in five languages once again across its coverage area in South Sudan and southern Darfur. Pray that this technical procedure will be successful and that both Livingstone and mechanic Sam Sele will have safe travel to and from Radio Peace this week. Also, pray for our transmitter operators and security crew who live at the broadcast facility in South Sudan.
(Global Endeavor/ http://www.globalendeavor.com/)

0230-0400 UTC Daily English/Arabic/Vernaculars 4740 to Southern Sudan (ex 4750)
1600-1745v UTC Daily English/Arabic/Vernaculars 4740 to Southern Sudan (ex 4750)

Radio Peace's lead organizations are Educational Media Corporation and the Persecution Project Foundation, along with various support groups.

Address: Educational Media Corporation, P.O. Box 905, Spotsylvania, VA 22553 USA and Persecution Project Foundation, P.O. Box 1327, Culpeper, VA 22701-6327 USA

Website: http://www.edmedia.org/ http://www.persecutionproject.org/

Email: info@edmedia.org and info@persecutionproject.org

(BDXC)