Goma 21st February 2017Radio Okapi (the UN Radio) is 15 Years old  on the 25 of February  2017. It is on this back drop that a Conference debate has been organized on Tuesday 21 February 2017 on the  theme "Contribution of Radio Okapi in the Consolidation of Peace in North Kivu: what are the expectations?"

Opening the debate the Station Manager for Radio Okapi in Goma Sy Koumbo gave a background of the radio, its structure, functions underlining the Peace mandate of Radio Okapi in the country, acknowledging the enormous   contribution of the Radio Okapi in North Kivu.

Speaking during the opening ceremony the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)David Gressly  acknowledge that Radio Okapi was not only the of MONUSCO but also to the Congolese people  because of its  values of its professionalism , diversity , independence, neutrality  and excellence amongst  others.

North Kivu governor Julien Paluku on his part appreciated the good job done by  Radio Okapi so far but requests tolerance due to the fact   democracy of the DRC is very young  and should not be compared  with older Democracies like  in Europe , the Unites States  the United Kingdom and others  .

Other Speakers including political party leaders, civil society, Youth organizations in the same vain congratulated Radio Okapi on their 15th anniversary and wised that the Radio continues in the same direction of professionalism in informing the entire population of DRC.

Thereafter there was a very rich and interesting debate involving a diverse public including students, University lecturers, political parties, members of the civil society and others. During this debate North Kivu MONUSCO Head of Office, Daniel Ruiz, distinguished between two types of Journalism to include: Journalism for Peace and Journalism for war and stressed on the fact that Radio Okapi falls within the category of the journalism for Peace.

The main concerns raised during the debate included, the continuity of Radio Okapi after the departure MONUSCO; the coverage by Radio Okapi of the entire territory and the state; the increase in the participation and coverage of women’s activities ; Radio Okapi should continue to give the opportunity of expression to all.

It should be noted that other activities including a photo exhibition, football march and a social evening  wraps up the commemoration of the 15 anniversary of the UN Radio in Goma .

The debate was spiced with music by a youth group in Goma.

Martha Biongo/ PIO GOMA