Unity state gov’t official says Bentiu radio back on air after six years of shutdown

BENTIU – The government-operated Bentiu Radio in Unity state has resumed operation after six years following shutdown in 2014 as result of the outbreak of violence in December 2013, according to a senior state government official.

Chuol Sam Tut, the Director General of Unity state Ministry of Information told Sudans Post on phone from Bentiu that the radio station resumed operation on Tuesday morning and would not cease operations again as governor Nguen Manytuil has availed the sufficient funds needed to keep it on air.

“The Bentiu Radio stopped its operations in 2014 after the outbreak of the conflict in the country. The state government under Dr. Joseph Manytuil repaired the FM-99 radio station in July 2020 but it couldn’t go on air due to some technical challenges,” he said.

“As we speak, the radio is on air and the operation will not stop again as the necessary funds needed have been availed by the Governor of Unity state Dr. Manytuil,” the senior state government official further added.

The Bentiu Radio was closed in April 2014 after the town serving as the capital of the oil-rich Unity state was overrun by opposition fighters allied to then rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan had accused opposition commanders of using the station to spread hate speech when it briefly recaptured Bentiu for two week on April 16, 2014.