November 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Access to the website of the UN-sponsored Miraya FM radio in Sudan was temporarily blocked for several hours on Wednesday by the country’s National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Sudan Tribune has observed.
Miraya FM is a joint enterprise between the UN Mission in Sudan and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss non-government organization. It started broadcasting on FM frequencies on June, 30 2006 and it provides news services around-the-clock.
The station broadcasts only in south Sudan as authorities in north Sudan refused to grant Miraya a license to broadcast in the north. Its relays are not audible in north Sudan despite the fact it has offices in Khartoum.
Yesterday afternoon, Miraya’s website opened onto the logo of NTC which said that “this site has been blocked.”
However, the website was accessible again later in the evening.
A source from Miraya FM confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the radio’s website was blocked yesterday’s afternoon, saying that the radio’s administration was not aware of the reasons for the blockade and did not receive any notification from the authorities.
Sudan recently revoked the licenses of the BBC Arabic service and Monte Carol radio to broadcast on short wave frequencies in north Sudan, saying that the radio stations “committed acts violating the sanctity of national laws.”
During April’s national elections, Sudan attempted to disrupt the video-sharing website Youtube after the appearance of video footage showing elections officials tampering with ballot boxes.
Broadcast media in Sudan is tightly controlled by the state and heavily regulated by the NTC, which also filters and monitors internet content.
There are 16 radio stations broadcasting on FM frequencies in the capital Khartoum, almost all of them focus exclusively on entertainment, religious affairs or sport.
(ST)