Sudan's last independent radio station fights to survive amid funding cuts

Radio Dabanga, the last independent media outlet broadcasting news to Sudan from abroad, faces an uncertain future. The station has become a vital source of information for millions as conflict and repression silence local journalists. Now, funding cuts threaten its ability to continue operating. Founded in 2008 by editor-in-chief Kamal Elsadig, Radio Dabanga has long provided news to Sudanese listeners and refugees in neighbouring countries. Since 2023, fighting in Sudan has displaced around 14 million people and caused at least 150,000 deaths, making reliable reporting even more critical.

The station's budget of nearly $3 million once relied heavily on USAID funding. But these projects were frozen or ended under President Trump, leaving a major financial gap. Recent reports confirm that USAID support will cease entirely by the end of 2025, worsening the crisis.

With funding from the Dutch foreign ministry also at risk for the next budget year, Radio Dabanga has already reduced staff, freelancers, and airtime. A recent fundraiser in Amsterdam aimed to raise awareness and emergency funds, but the station's survival remains in doubt.

Inside Sudan, many journalists have fled, been kidnapped, or killed, leaving almost no local media. Radio Dabanga remains one of the few sources reporting directly on the war and humanitarian situation. Without new funding, Radio Dabanga may be forced to scale back further or shut down entirely. Its closure would leave millions of Sudanese without access to independent news during one of the country's worst crises. The station's future now depends on finding alternative financial support before the end of 2025.