For Release:   April    9 , 2010

Alhurra and Radio Sawa to Bring Extensive

Coverage of the Sudanese Elections

( SPRINGFIELD, Va.)—Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa will provide extensive coverage of Sudan’s elections and the active boycott by several of Sudan’s main opposition parties over concerns of voter fraud and insecurity in the Darfur region. This coverage, airing on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 5:30 a.m. (All Times GMT), comes amid growing uncertainty over the future of Sudan.

Alhurra’s in-depth reporting will keep its viewers informed minute-by-minute for 14 consecutive hours about this significant event that will shape the future of Sudan in the years to come. Through live reports from Khartoum, Juba, Cairo, London, New York and Washington D.C., Alhurra’s journalists and commentators will provide a comprehensive look at the topics influencing voters’ decisions, profiles of the candidates and opposition leaders who pulled out of the elections, the role of women in elections, the boycott of elections by several opposition parties, efforts of Sudanese youth to effect change and the transparency of Sudan’s elections.

In the week leading up to the Sudanese elections, Alhurra aired a series of in-depth interviews with the major opposition parties’ candidates.   Alhurra’s flagship show Al Youm aired background reports on the Sudanese electoral system to help viewers understand the elections process.   Al Youm’s correspondents have delved deeply into the significance of the elections to internally displaced persons in Sudan.   Al Youm also aired a profile of the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Major General Scott Gration.   On Election Day, Al Youm will provide viewers with reports on breaking election news, voting irregularities and the ramifications of the boycott by main opposition parties from Khartoum, Juba and Darfur and conduct interviews with legal experts, political analysts and election observers.

Radio Sawa will broadcast hourly informative updates about the elections in expanded newscasts and live coverage from Sudan. The all-news and information program, Afia Darfur will focus on the election’s effects on the displaced people in Darfur. Broadcasting on shortwave radio, the daily 30-minute program will air at 6:00 p.m. and will repeat at 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. the following day.   On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Afia Darfur will expand its coverage to a full hour to provide extra coverage on the Sudanese elections.   The broadcasts can be heard throughout Darfur and eastern Chad.

Both Alhurra and Radio Sawa will provide their audiences the opportunity to follow elections news via the Internet at Radio Sawa's all-news Web site, www.radiosawa.com and through live video streaming on www.alhurra.com .   Moreover, Alhurra and Radio Sawa will post breaking news and updates on Twitter and on their Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/alhurratvnews and www.facebook.com/sawanews .  

Coverage of elections in the Middle East and elsewhere has been a cornerstone of MBN’s programming; in recent months and years Alhurra and Radio Sawa have had extensive coverage of the Israeli, Iraqi and American elections.

Recent surveys by research companies such as ACNielsen show that together Alhurra and Radio Sawa have an unduplicated weekly reach of an estimated 35 million adults. Alhurra and Radio Sawa are operated by the non-profit corporation “The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.” (MBN). MBN is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency.  The BBG serves oversight and as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.

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CONTACT:           Chams Eddin

                                Communications Specialist

                                Middle East Broadcasting Networks

                                703-852-9036

                             ceddin@alhurra.com

Chams Eddin

Communications Specialist

Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.

7600 Boston Blvd

Springfield, VA 22153

703-852-9036(O)