Radio Okapi is a radio network that operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On an annual budget of USD$4.5 million, a staff of 200 provide news and information to the entire urban population of the DRC. Radio Okapi provides programming in French and in the four national languages of Congo: Lingala, Kituba, Swahili and Tshiluba, History Radio Okapi was created by the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and the Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle. The agreement between MONUC and the Congolese government foresaw the creation of a radio network to inform the Congolese population of the MONUC's efforts. MONUC and the Fondation Hirondelle submitted a plan in 2001 to the United Nations, and the radio network went live on 25 February 2002. The station takes its name from the endangered Okapi, the elusive mammal native to the rainforest of northern Congo. In 2011 The Economist said that Radio Okapi was "one of Africa’s most admirably independent radio services". Mary Myers, in the essay "Well-Informed Journalists Make Well-Informed Citizens: Coverage of Governance Issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo," said that the radio station "raised the bar for other indigenous radio and TV stations in the country." Other area radio stations copied Radio Okapi's news gathering techniques, program concepts, and formats. Myers also said "Although Radio Okapi can be a thorn in the government's side at times, its stance of promoting peace and democracy and the strong role it plays in civic education have led to its recognition, even by the Minister of Information, as a national asset that the Democratic Republic of Congo could ill afford to lose." Serge Maheshe a journalist for Radio Okapi was shot on 13 June 2007. Maheshe was the editor in chief in Bukavu for the station. Transmitters Radio Okapi provides programming in French and in Lingala, Kituba, Swahili and Tshiluba, transmitting all day every day on: Kinshasa 103.5 MHz Aru 88.0 MHz Bandundu 99.0 MHz Baraka 103.4 MHz Béni 92.0 MHz Bukavu 95.3 MHz Bunia 104.9 MHz Bunyakiri 103.2 MHz Butembo 92.9 MHz Dungu 103.4 MHz Gbadolite 93.0 MHz Gemena 95.4 MHz Goma 105.2 MHz Isiro 90.1 MHz Kalemie 105.0 MHz Kamina 104.3 MHz Kananga 93.0 MHz Kanyabayonga 96.0 MHz Kikwit 103.5 MHz Kindu 103.0 MHz Kisangani 94.8 MHz Lisala 104.3 MHz Lubumbashi 95.8 MHz Mahagi 96.0 MHz Manono 104.5 MHz Masisi 96.0 MHz Matadi 102.0 MHz Mbandaka