Civil War and Radio in Sudan: reality check with Tarig Osman

What is the current situation in Sudan? Is Radio helping the population deal with the civil war?

On Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, we had the privilege of interviewing Tarig Osman, partner of the Italy-based Elenos Group, which is involved in the development of the broadcasting sector in Sudan and South Sudan. Our goal was to gain insight into the current situation in the country from someone who resides there and to explore the role of radio before and during the ongoing crisis. The following is a transcript of our conversation, which is also available unedited as an audio track. 

As explained by Mr. Giulio Bussolari, Area Sales Manager Africa for Elenos group, a big part of the broadcasting infrastructure in Sudan is of Italian origin, mainly supplied by the italan company. This includes the private, the religious and the state-run radios, including those run by the armed forces. There are about 30 sites in the country, but the most important site is on a hill in or near the capital Khartorum. 

MHB: Could you please introduce yourself and your experience? 

TO: My name is Tarig Osman, I am the owner of a company that represents Italian companies in Yemen and Sudan. We mainly provide studio and transmission equipment, such as FM transmitters, to private radio stations in Sudan. In Khartoum alone, there are around 47 FM private radio stations. 

MHB: Before discussing radio, could you talk about the situation in Sudan? 

TO: Unfortunately, Sudan is currently in a state of war. The conflict is centered around the capital, Khartoum, where there is fighting between the Sudanese army and a militia group called the Rapid Support Forces. The situation is dire, with no electricity, water, or food. My family and I had to leave our home and relocate to a safer area. The conflict has destroyed 70% of the city, and it will take at least 10 years to rebuild. The war started as a misunderstanding between two leaders, but we believe there is a third party at play, the Islamic party, who want to regain power after governing the country for 30 years. I think they are the hidden hand behind this war. Both our current leaders are Muslim, but the conflict is not about religion, it's about power and control. 

MHB: Can you elaborate on the two leaders and their relationship? 

TO: The two leaders were not religious, and they lived in neighboring houses. We believe that the Islamic party, who are against democracy and civilian government, are behind the conflict, using the army to gain control. The conflict is not about religion, it's about power and control. 

 
MHB: Can you update us on the current situation in Sudan? Are you and your customers in danger? Do you think the conflict will end soon? 

TO: I'm not in danger, and my family is safe because we moved 170 kilometers from the capital. But the people in the capital are in bad shape. There's a lot of debris and killing, and many civilians have died due to fighting between the army and militia. The FM center that transmits all private radio registrations is occupied by the militia, so no radio is working in the capital.  

MHB: No radio? Not a single one? 

TO:  Regarding my customers in Sudan, there's no transmission at all - no FM, no medium wave, no shortwave. Tomorrow (may 4) there's a big meeting between the two leaders to see how to suspend or stop the war, but nobody knows what will happen. 

MHB: Can you tell us about the radio sector in Sudan before the war? What were the public and private radio stations, and were they political or musical? 

TO: Before the war, there were around 47 FM radio stations, with the majority being private. There were also around six or five public radio stations. Private radio stations cover all categories, including music, politics, economics, family, and sports. Most of these stations were transmitted from the capital, and very few had retransmission outside. There were no transmissions on medium wave or shortwave, and only a few stations were doing transmissions in other states. Currently, there's no transmission at all due to the militia occupying the transmission site. 

MHB: Is radio listening al all possible in Sudan, and if so, are the radio stations still operating? 

TO: Currently, there's no radio transmission at all due to the conflict. The government is trying to restore broadcasting, and they may be using low power transmitters in Khartoum town to broadcast the news. However, nobody is using medium wave because nobody has the necessary receivers at home or in their cars. Everybody is using only FM. 

MHB: Are radio stations broadcasting from other sites? 

TO: No, currently there is no broadcasting happening because the site is completely off due to the war situation. The private radio stations are not working because the transmission site is occupied by the militia, and they don't allow anyone to operate the equipment. 

MHB: Any digital stations? 

TO: We haven't implemented the DAB+ yet. The maximum we can do is use FM in low power. Sudan has a special regulation that doesn't allow private stations to go beyond two kilowatts, which is the maximum power allowed in Sudan. There are some radio stations using the Internet Protocol to broadcast, but the cost of the internet is expensive in Sudan, so I don't think a lot of people follow internet radio here. We were supposed to do a pilot project for the DAB here in Sudan with Elenos, but because of the war, everything is stopped, and we don't know when it will start again. The idea is to broadcast fifteen channels, five of which will be public registration, and the rest will be private registration.  

It's a prototype to see how people will accept the new technology and to train people about it. This project started four to five years ago, but now they asked me to send them a new quotation because they wanted to implement it this year. But because of the war, I think everything will be delayed again. We're having the same problem with the Digital TV because now we're still using broadcasting through a normal analog TV transmitter, and I don't know if this war will stop the whole project. 

MHB: Is it possible to establish a low power mobile transmitting site, maybe out of a car or truck, from a legislative and practical point of view? 

TO: As a company that supplies FM transmitters, the regulation doesn't allow me to have any transmitter in the company. Private registrations get their license from the committee, and they give me that license, and I make the order for them with the number of transmitted licenses they need. I send it to them directly, so they clear it from the airport. It's not allowed for us to have transmitters in our stores, not even spare parts. This is one of the biggest problems we face in Sudan. 

MHB: Yesterday, BBC World Service announced that they will resume shortwave broadcasting to Sudan, half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening on the 19 meteres band of the Shortwave. Does this make any sense given that people don't even have medium wave radio? 

TO: It doesn't make sense because people in Sudan don't have medium wave radio, and shortwave radio is even more difficult for them to receive. Shortwave radio depends on atmospheric conditions, and it's not always reliable. It's not a solution to the problem of radio broadcasting in Sudan. 

MHB: Is it possible to set up temporary low power transmitters to inform the population about where to find medical care or food? 

TO: It's not possible because we don't have the right equipment or transmitters available. The government doesn't have a backup transmitter and the only site available is occupied by militia. 

We don't know the situation of the equipment there. Shortwave won't work because people don't have medium wave radios. Even private radio stations are affected and don't know what happened to their equipment. 

MHB: How many of the private stations have Elenos equipment and how much investment is needed to build a station? Is it affordable for community stations? 

TO: We've installed around 60-70% of radio stations in the capital and states using Elenos equipment. The investment is not too expensive, but salaries are lower in Sudan than Italy. So it is relativly more expensive.   

MHB: Can you clarify whether the 1 kW and 2 kW cap you mentioned earlier refer to ERP or the power of the transmitter, which is then enhanced by the antenna gain? 

TO: The concept of community radio stations is not known in Sudan. Unfortunately, only the government or private sector can establish radio stations. Private sectors are always looking for money and income from advertisements, but since there are more than 40 radio stations, the income from advertisements is very weak. I expect that before the end of 2023, not less than 25% of the radio stations will be stopped due to budget constraints. We don't have a good experience in this area, and nobody cares about that sector. 

MHB: So, the question was  whether the 1 kW and 2 kW you mentioned earlier are ERP or the power of the transmitter, which is then enhanced by the antenna gain. 

TO: OK. In Khartoum, for example, the license came out with one kilowatt or two kilowatt output power transmitter, and you can have a maximum of a four dipoles antenna. Most private sectors prefer to save money and only buy a 1 kW transmitter and a 2 dipoles antenna. Additionally, if you decide to stop your service, mayube you run out of money or want to pause, the equipment becomes owned by the government and not by you. 

MHB: Can individuals in Sudan have their own transmission site for broadcasting? 

TO: No, it is not allowed. The transmission site is owned and operated by the government, and there are yearly fees for the service. There are also frequent power outages, which can cause interruptions in broadcasting. 

MHB: Is there freedom of the press in Sudan, particularly for minority religions like Christians? 

TO: There is little freedom of the press in Sudan, but there is freedom of religion. Minority religions can broadcast from Khartoum if they wish to do so. 

MHB: What is your message to the world regarding Sudan? 

TO: We want peace, and we do not want any more military governments in Africa. We are being supported by the American government, the European Union, the African Union, and some other countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The conflict between the two leaders needs to stop, as it has already caused many deaths and will continue to harm the people of Sudan and neighboring countries. On Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, we had the privilege of interviewing Tarig Osman, partner of the Italy-based Elenos Group, which is involved in the development of the broadcasting sector in Sudan and South Sudan. Our goal was to gain insight into the current situation in the country from someone who resides there and to explore the role of radio before and during the ongoing crisis. The following is a transcript of our conversation, which is also available unedited on our podcast (link). 

As explained by Mr. Giulio Bussolari, Area Sales Manager Africa for Elenos group, a big part of the broadcasting infrastructure in Sudan is of Italian origin, mainly supplied by the xx based company. This includes the private, the religious and the state-run radios, including those run by the armed forces. There are about 30 sites in the country, but the most important site is on a hill in or near the capital Khartorum. 

MHB: Could you please introduce yourself and your experience? 

TO: My name is Tarig Osman, I am the owner of a company that represents Italian companies in Yemen and Sudan. We mainly provide studio and transmission equipment, such as FM transmitters, to private radio stations in Sudan. In Khartoum alone, there are around 47 FM private radio stations. 

MHB: Before discussing radio, could you talk about the situation in Sudan? 

TO: Unfortunately, Sudan is currently in a state of war. The conflict is centered around the capital, Khartoum, where there is fighting between the Sudanese army and a militia group called the Rapid Support Forces. The situation is dire, with no electricity, water, or food. My family and I had to leave our home and relocate to a safer area. The conflict has destroyed 70% of the city, and it will take at least 10 years to rebuild. The war started as a misunderstanding between two leaders, but we believe there is a third party at play, the Islamic party, who want to regain power after governing the country for 30 years. I think they are the hidden hand behind this war. Both our current leaders are Muslim, but the conflict is not about religion, it's about power and control. 

MHB: Can you elaborate on the two leaders and their relationship? 

TO: The two leaders were not religious, and they lived in neighboring houses. We believe that the Islamic party, who are against democracy and civilian government, are behind the conflict, using the army to gain control. The conflict is not about religion, it's about power and control. 

 
MHB: Can you update us on the current situation in Sudan? Are you and your customers in danger? Do you think the conflict will end soon? 

TO: I'm not in danger, and my family is safe because we moved 170 kilometers from the capital. But the people in the capital are in bad shape. There's a lot of debris and killing, and many civilians have died due to fighting between the army and militia. The FM center that transmits all private radio registrations is occupied by the militia, so no radio is working in the capital.  

MHB: No radio? Not a single one? 

TO:  Regarding my customers in Sudan, there's no transmission at all - no FM, no medium wave, no shortwave. Tomorrow (may 4) there's a big meeting between the two leaders to see how to suspend or stop the war, but nobody knows what will happen. 

MHB: Can you tell us about the radio sector in Sudan before the war? What were the public and private radio stations, and were they political or musical? 

TO: Before the war, there were around 47 FM radio stations, with the majority being private. There were also around six or five public radio stations. Private radio stations cover all categories, including music, politics, economics, family, and sports. Most of these stations were transmitted from the capital, and very few had retransmission outside. There were no transmissions on medium wave or shortwave, and only a few stations were doing transmissions in other states. Currently, there's no transmission at all due to the militia occupying the transmission site. 

MHB: Is radio listening al all possible in Sudan, and if so, are the radio stations still operating? 

TO: Currently, there's no radio transmission at all due to the conflict. The government is trying to restore broadcasting, and they may be using low power transmitters in Khartoum town to broadcast the news. However, nobody is using medium wave because nobody has the necessary receivers at home or in their cars. Everybody is using only FM. 

MHB: Are radio stations broadcasting from other sites? 

TO: No, currently there is no broadcasting happening because the site is completely off due to the war situation. The private radio stations are not working because the transmission site is occupied by the militia, and they don't allow anyone to operate the equipment. 

MHB: Any digital stations? 

TO: We haven't implemented the DAB+ yet. The maximum we can do is use FM in low power. Sudan has a special regulation that doesn't allow private stations to go beyond two kilowatts, which is the maximum power allowed in Sudan. There are some radio stations using the Internet Protocol to broadcast, but the cost of the internet is expensive in Sudan, so I don't think a lot of people follow internet radio here. We were supposed to do a pilot project for the DAB here in Sudan with Elenos, but because of the war, everything is stopped, and we don't know when it will start again. The idea is to broadcast fifteen channels, five of which will be public registration, and the rest will be private registration.  

It's a prototype to see how people will accept the new technology and to train people about it. This project started four to five years ago, but now they asked me to send them a new quotation because they wanted to implement it this year. But because of the war, I think everything will be delayed again. We're having the same problem with the Digital TV because now we're still using broadcasting through a normal analog TV transmitter, and I don't know if this war will stop the whole project. 

MHB: Is it possible to establish a low power mobile transmitting site, maybe out of a car or truck, from a legislative and practical point of view? 

TO: As a company that supplies FM transmitters, the regulation doesn't allow me to have any transmitter in the company. Private registrations get their license from the committee, and they give me that license, and I make the order for them with the number of transmitted licenses they need. I send it to them directly, so they clear it from the airport. It's not allowed for us to have transmitters in our stores, not even spare parts. This is one of the biggest problems we face in Sudan. 

MHB: Yesterday, BBC World Service announced that they will resume shortwave broadcasting to Sudan, half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening on the 19 meteres band of the Shortwave. Does this make any sense given that people don't even have medium wave radio? 

TO: It doesn't make sense because people in Sudan don't have medium wave radio, and shortwave radio is even more difficult for them to receive. Shortwave radio depends on atmospheric conditions, and it's not always reliable. It's not a solution to the problem of radio broadcasting in Sudan. 

MHB: Is it possible to set up temporary low power transmitters to inform the population about where to find medical care or food? 

TO: It's not possible because we don't have the right equipment or transmitters available. The government doesn't have a backup transmitter and the only site available is occupied by militia. 

We don't know the situation of the equipment there. Shortwave won't work because people don't have medium wave radios. Even private radio stations are affected and don't know what happened to their equipment. 

MHB: How many of the private stations have Elenos equipment and how much investment is needed to build a station? Is it affordable for community stations? 

TO: We've installed around 60-70% of radio stations in the capital and states using Elenos equipment. The investment is not too expensive, but salaries are lower in Sudan than Italy. So it is relativly more expensive.   

MHB: Can you clarify whether the 1 kW and 2 kW cap you mentioned earlier refer to ERP or the power of the transmitter, which is then enhanced by the antenna gain? 

TO: The concept of community radio stations is not known in Sudan. Unfortunately, only the government or private sector can establish radio stations. Private sectors are always looking for money and income from advertisements, but since there are more than 40 radio stations, the income from advertisements is very weak. I expect that before the end of 2023, not less than 25% of the radio stations will be stopped due to budget constraints. We don't have a good experience in this area, and nobody cares about that sector. 

MHB: So, the question was  whether the 1 kW and 2 kW you mentioned earlier are ERP or the power of the transmitter, which is then enhanced by the antenna gain. 

TO: OK. In Khartoum, for example, the license came out with one kilowatt or two kilowatt output power transmitter, and you can have a maximum of a four dipoles antenna. Most private sectors prefer to save money and only buy a 1 kW transmitter and a 2 dipoles antenna. Additionally, if you decide to stop your service, mayube you run out of money or want to pause, the equipment becomes owned by the government and not by you. 

MHB: Can individuals in Sudan have their own transmission site for broadcasting? 

TO: No, it is not allowed. The transmission site is owned and operated by the government, and there are yearly fees for the service. There are also frequent power outages, which can cause interruptions in broadcasting. 

MHB: Is there freedom of the press in Sudan, particularly for minority religions like Christians? 

TO: There is some freedom of the press in Sudan, and there is freedom of religion. Minority religions can broadcast from Khartoum if they wish to do so. 

MHB: What is your message to the world regarding Sudan? 

TO: We want peace, and we do not want any more military governments in Africa. We are being supported by the American government, the European Union, the African Union, and some other countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The conflict between the two leaders needs to stop, as it has already caused many deaths and will continue to harm the people of Sudan and neighboring countries.