Lainya Residents Celebrate Revival of Local Radio Station

(LAINYA COUNTY, CENTRAL EQUATORIA) – Unity FM 100.8, the only community radio station in Lainya County resumed broadcasting on Friday after spending six months off air due to damaged equipment.

The station went silent in April when a power circuit burnt its main control console, cutting off residents from local news and public announcements.

Acting station manager Emmanuel Khamis told Access Radio that repairs were made with help from Digital Rights Frontline, which covered the technical work and assisted staff with training on how to manage equipment to avoid future breakdowns.

Khamis said the team now plans to restore all regular programmes including talk shows and public service announcements. He thanked Digital Rights Frontline for the support and called for continued assistance to keep the station running.

In a statement on its 211 Check page, Digital Rights Frontline confirmed it had not only repaired the damaged equipment but also trained station staff on proper management and maintenance.

Local residents said the return of Unity FM would help improve access to information. Alice Kiden, who lives in Lainya town, said the community had struggled without a reliable source of news and public messages. She said people now expect to receive timely updates on security, health and social issues.

According to Khamis, the revival of Unity FM highlights how community radios remain an essential source of information in remote areas of South Sudan, where internet coverage is still low and newspapers are rarely available.

Unity FM Restores Service in Lainya County