Remoteness and Connection on a Congolese Humanitarian Radio Network

ABSTRACT:In northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, local and international non-governmental organizations have, for the last decade, built a network of two-way radios to connect rural communities in order to better protect them from armed groups active in the region. This article moves along this radio network to explore the concepts of remoteness and connection. Rural residents and humanitarians alike describe the region as “enclaved,” drawing on Congolese experiences and conceptions of isolation and vulnerability to appeal for greater connection. The connection oЛered by radios, however, is fragile and contingent, relying on alignments, negotiations, and compromises. The article describes these negotiations at the village level (among NGOs and various local actors) and between NGOs and the state, demonstrating that connection is a negotiated and ongoing process.