The only two radio amateurs in South Sudan, Massimo Stella, Z81B (IZ0EGB), and Diya al Asadi, Z81D (YI1DZ), told the DxCoffee newsletter that they are doing well, although many others have lost their lives in fighting that began in mid-December in the capital of Juba. The ensuing strife displaced thousands of civilians.

They said that while the situation has calmed in Juba, fighting has broken out in other South Sudanese states. “In these conditions, the DxCoffee readers won’t be surprised if we won’t transmit on the Amateur Radio bands for a while,” they said.

While Z81D remains in South Sudan, Z81B is in Europe. Both have shipped their radio gear away “in order to avoid misunderstandings with the parties involved in the conflict.” Both operators were part of the multinational Z81X team that activated South Sudan in November.

Hosted by the South Sudan Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the group, led by IARU Region 1President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, also conducted a series of workshops, with support from the Yasme Foundation, aimed at establishing a sound Amateur Radio spectrum management and regulatory regime for the Republic of South Sudan. — Thanks to The Daily DX