This radio network was launched on February 25 2002, the same day that the inter-Congolese dialogue began in Sun City, South Africa. Based at Monuc headquarters in Kinshasa, Radio Okapi broadcasts in French and the 4 other commonly spoken Congolese languages (Swahili, Lingala, Chiluba and Kikongo) from 10 studios and relay stations scattered across the country. The network is served by satellite, short-wave and FM transmitters, and - in order to reach the sizeable Congolese diaspora - it also broadcasts live on the internet with streaming audio versions of the network's programming. In an effort to reach across the DRC, the programmes produced by Radio Okapi are distributed free of charge to local radio stations for rebroadcast. Radio Okapi provides services to approximately 45 million inhabitants.

Programming focuses on issues such as health, education, human rights and culture. News programmes are broadcast 3 times a day, 5 days a week in the 5 languages, with music, local reports and features, and national programmes filling the remainder of the broadcast time. Weekends are primarily devoted to music. Radio Okapi seeks to pay particular attention to the plight of the many victims of the violence and war: refugees, displaced persons, and those who are destitute and especially vulnerable. Through magazine programmes, the network provides specific information on the activities of the United Nations (UN), its specialised agencies, and the Monuc mission.

The network seeks to represent and serve the public interest by basing its activities in the community, recruiting most of its staff from the community, creating locally-produced programming for local and national audiences, and providing training to its staff to assure the long-term sustainability of a professional media. The project cooperates with existing media in the DRC, mainly with other radio stations, in the fields of production and training. The Radio Okapi project has a staff of around 100, of whom the majority are Congolese. Staff members include about 20 journalists based in Kinshasa and another 30 scattered around the country.

Conflict, Health, Education, Rights.

In January 2002, just prior to the project's launch, David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the UN's peacekeeping department, told Swiss Radio International's Roy Probert that the rationale for UN support for the project was based on the conviction that in post-conflict situations, reliable information is important: "The need for information is parallel to the need for food, shelter, water, health care and so. It can cut right through the rumours and the hostile propaganda that often swirl around and through conflict situations. The population generally doesn't know what to believe. So if we can get out precise information to everybody - one single clear story which is truthful - that is a net benefit to the peace process."