Community radio and social inclusion in a conflict context: the case of the Ancuabe and Chiúre radio stations in Cabo Delgado (2022–2024)

Abstract

This article analyzes the contribution of community radios in Ancuabe and Chiúre to the social inclusion of populations displaced by the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, from 2022 to 2024. The research, with a mixed approach predominantly qualitative, used semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and direct observation, involving radio managers and communicators, members of displaced communities, community leaders and representatives of partner organizations. The results reveal that community radios promote social inclusion through three fundamental dimensions: information and access to services, highlighting the dissemination of information on humanitarian assistance, health, education and rights; expression and social representation, materialized in the creation of spaces for testimonies and programs produced by displaced people; and community awareness and mobilization, which contributes to the deconstruction of stereotypes and the promotion of dialogue between displaced people and host communities. The research identifies, however, significant differences between the two districts, with Chiúre presenting more direct and advanced forms of participation and Ancuabe registering a more mediated and cautious participation, reflecting challenges related to trust, fear of exposure and language barriers. It is concluded that community radios play a structuring role in social inclusion, but this role is crossed by tensions and contradictions that require deliberate strategies to deepen and broaden inclusive practices.