H. Res. 415
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
September 14, 1998.
Whereas Africa’s numerous ethnic groups, with an estimated
2,000 languages and dialects, have long been isolated
from each other;
Whereas radio is the primary means of transmitting vital in-
formation in Africa and linking African populations;
Whereas poverty, illiteracy, and logistical difficulties make
television and the print media less utilized means of com-
munication;
Whereas radio is not only compatible with Africa’s oral tradi-
tions, but has the added benefit of being affordable and
adaptable;
Whereas African radio stations generally are owned and oper-
ated by governments, which being aware of radio’s power
often deny or delay applications for proposed independent
radio stations, harass officials or staff of independent
radio stations, or close independent radio stations;
Whereas 53 independent journalists in Africa have been killed
over the past 8 years, 42 other journalists were impris-
oned last year alone, and hundreds of others have been
threatened, harassed, or even physically assaulted;
Whereas standards of journalistic professionalism often are
low in Africa, which causes problems of accuracy in re-
•HRES 415 EH
porting that often lead governments to overreact and
apply repressive legal remedies against the media, includ-
ing radio broadcasts;
Whereas biased government radio broadcasts have promoted
ruling parties and limited coverage of opposition political
parties, while inhibiting the free flow of information nec-
essary for citizens to effectively exercise their electoral
choices, thus undermining democracy;
Whereas the promotion of independent ownership of local
radio operations in Africa is a useful tool for advancing
the United States foreign policy objective of promoting
democracy and human rights;
Whereas the phenomenon of ‘‘hate radio’’ has fueled genocide
in countries such as Rwanda, in which an estimated half
million persons were killed in a largely ethnic purge in
1994;
Whereas surrogate broadcasting, which consists of locally
generated news on issues of local concern, has been well
demonstrated as a vehicle to promote democracy and
human rights in repressed regions and countries through-
out the world;
Whereas the Voice of America has designed the ‘‘Radio De-
mocracy for Africa’’ project to create a surrogate radio
operation throughout Africa to promote democracy and
human rights; and
Whereas the African Growth and Opportunity Act calls for
the United States Information Agency to use its broad-
casts to promote economic reforms in addition to its cur-
rent promotion of political reforms: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
•HRES 415 EH
(1) supports the creation and operation of the Voice
of America’s surrogate radio project known as ‘‘Radio
Democracy for Africa’’ which includes journalist training
and journalist exchange components;
(2) urges the United States Information Agency to
expand its economic, political, and human rights pro-
gramming in Africa to support indigenous efforts aimed
at promoting democratization, human rights, economic
development, and good governance;
(3) calls on the Agency for International Develop-
ment to adopt a comprehensive strategy for the pro-
motion of free and independent African media, especially
radio, by supporting journalist and other media training
programs, assisting in the development of African media
associations, facilitating the creation of African news
gathering and delivery networks, and encouraging the
use of radio as an educational medium on a variety of
topics, including but not limited to democracy, human
rights, and economic development;
(4) calls on the United States Government to en-
courage local and foreign investment in independent
local radio operations in Africa;
(5) urges the United States Government to make
freedom of speech and the safety of journalists a priority
•HRES 415 EH
in discussions with African governments on democracy
and human rights;
(6) encourages the United States Government to
use all reasonable means to help safeguard the operation
of independent radio stations and the legitimate activi-
ties of journalists in African countries; and
(7) urges the United States Government to support
and assist the development of mechanisms and institu-
tions for the protection of independent journalists and to
discourage the now frequent use of draconian laws and
government policies inhibiting freedom of speech in Afri-
ca.
Attest:
Clerk.