DRC: UN hopes to launch first radio station in November

NAIROBI, 25 September (IRIN) - The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has confirmed that a network of UN-sponsored peacekeeping FM and shortwave radio stations is expected to begin with the November inauguration of its 24-hour headquarter station in Kinshasa. A name for the station has yet to be selected, and it will not mention either of the main sponsors - the UN or the Fondation Hirondelle.

MONUC hopes to launch an additional 11 stations across the country in the following five months. The regional stations will relay Kinshasa broadcasts part of the time, and break for local programming during mornings and evenings. The most important if these stations will be at Goma on the
Rwandan border. Others will be in the northeastern town of Kisangani; the northwestern town of Mbandaka; the town of Kananga in the central Kasai region; and in Kalemie, in southeastern Katanga province. Locations to be considered subsequently include Kindu, Bunia, Gbadolite, Basankusu, Boende, Ilebo and Manono.