Radio Miraya Goes Off Air in Yei After UN Agencies Withdraw

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) — Residents of Yei town are facing a growing information gap following the shutdown of Radio Miraya broadcasts after the withdrawal of key United Nations agencies from the area.

Radio Miraya’s transmission equipment, including repeaters and antennas, had been installed within the former premises of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), located approximately three kilometers west of Yei town. However, both UNMISS and UNHCR have since exited Yei and handed over their infrastructure to the county government.

Since the agencies’ departure, Radio Miraya has been off air in Yei for about a week, cutting off residents from a major source of nationwide news and civic education programming.

Several residents who spoke to Access Radio expressed concern over the disruption, saying it has significantly limited their access to reliable information.

Doctor Amplifier, a regular listener in Yei, urged authorities to restore the station’s signal, describing it as a vital source of national coverage.

“Radio Miraya is off air in Yei, and we want the managers of Radio Miraya, UNMISS, and the government to bring it back,” he said. “It is the only radio station providing information across the country. Local stations do not have the same reach.”

Another resident, Asiki Moses from the TTC area, echoed similar concerns, warning that the blackout has left the community disconnected from national developments.

“Radio Miraya is the only national station covering the whole country,” he said. “Now that it is off in Yei, we no longer know what is happening elsewhere. The government should provide a solution because information is power.”

Betty Juan, a resident of Hai Simba, cautioned that the absence of the station could fuel misinformation within the community.

“Some local radio stations cannot match the nationwide coverage of Radio Miraya,” she said. “We need both the government and Radio Miraya management to address this information gap.”

Residents also noted that while social media exists as an alternative source of information, it is not accessible to everyone, particularly less educated and rural populations, increasing the risk of misinformation.

Community members are now calling on Radio Miraya management in Juba and the Yei County authorities to urgently find local solutions to restore the signal and ensure continued access to reliable information.

Access Radio could not reach Radio Miraya for comments at the time of this publication.