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Congo
Overview
Country Overview
Congo is situated in Africa, bounded by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, the Angolan Cabinda Enclave and the Atlantic. Vast areas are swamps, grassland or thick forests with rivers. The vast River Congo draws much of its water from swamp lands in the north. The narrow sandy coastal plain is broken by lagoons behind which rise the Mayombe Mountains. The capital, Brazzaville, lies on the west side of Malebo Pool on the River Congo. Sights include the beautiful Basilique Sainte Anne, the Temple Mosque and the Municipal Gardens. To the south of Brazzaville are the Congo Rapids (9km/6 miles away) and the Loufoulakari Falls. Waterskiing on the Congo and Kouillou rivers is a popular sporting activity in peacetime. The main coastal town is Pointe-Noire (with its lively evening market) and there are good beaches close by in the Côte Sauvage region. Some restaurants specialise in African dishes such as piri piri chicken and Mouambe chicken in palm oil. Local musicians are popular in the main towns. Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have several nightclubs.
General Information
Area: 342,000 sq km (132,047 sq miles).
Population: 2,894,336 (official estimate 2001).
Population Density: 8.5 per sq km.
Capital: Brazzaville. Population: 950,000 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY: Congo is situated in Africa, bounded to the north by Cameroon and the Central African Republic, to the south and east by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the southwest by the Atlantic and to the west by Gabon. The Cabinda Enclave, belonging to Angola, lies to the southwest, on the Atlantic coast. Vast areas are swamps, grassland or thick forests with rivers being virtually the only means of internal travel. The vast River Congo and its major tributaries form most of the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, drawing much of its water from the swamplands in the north of the country. The narrow sandy coastal plain is broken by lagoons behind which rise the Mayombe Mountains. Most of the population lives in the south of the country.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State and Government: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.
Language: The official language is French. Other major languages are Lingala, Munukutuba and Kikongo. English is spoken very little.
Religion: The majority is Animist, with 45 per cent Roman Catholic. There are small Protestant and Muslim minorities.
Time: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD service is available in major cities only. Country code: 242. Outgoing international code: 00. Links with Western Europe are generally poor.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 networks are operated by CelTel Congo (website: www.msi-cellular.com) or Libertis Telecom. Coverage is mainly limited to Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.
Fax
Large hotels may be able to provide services.
Internet
ISPs include Africances (website: www.africances.com) and Congonet (website: www.congonet.cg). Facilities are available at hotels.
Telegram
Services are available in cities at the main post offices and some hotels.
Post
There is an unreliable internal service. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730/0800-1200 and 1430-1730; and (for stamps and telegrams) Mon-Sat 0800-2000; Sun and public holidays 0800-1200.
Press
Daily papers, which are all published in French, include Aujourd’hui, L’Eveil de Pointe-Noire, Mweti and Journal de Brazzaville.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | USA | Yes | Yes | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | Yes | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three months required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except nationals of Gabon.
Note: Nationals of Congo possessing dual nationality do require visas if travelling on their other passport.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £35 for 15 days; £50 for one month; £100 for three months (Business only). All visas are multiple entry.
Validity: Dependent on length of visa.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) One completed application form. (c) One passport-size photo in colour. (d) Proof of reserved accommodation. (e) Return ticket. (f) Fee, payable in cash or by postal order. (g) Yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers aged over one year. (h) If on business, letter from company on headed paper explaining nature of business; stating length of stay and date of intended arrival in Congo; giving contact details of representative of host company; and undertaking full financial responsibility for applicant including repatriation expenses in case of emergency. (i) If staying with friends or relatives, a certificat d’hébergement authorised by the immigration authorities in Congo.
Note: (a) Applications made by post must be accompanied by a cheque for £5 to cover postal charges (UK and Republic of Ireland only). (b) Vaccination certificates for cholera and tetanus may also be required. (c) All journalists, photographers and researchers must obtain written permission to carry out filming or research before entering the country.
Working days required: Visas issued immediately for applications made in person or 24 hours after date of receipt for postal applications.
Money
Currency: CFA Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Congo is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard and Diners Club all have limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros or Pounds Sterling.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is prohibited, except between countries of the Central African group. The import of foreign currency is unrestricted although amounts over £234/US$335 must be declared upon arrival. Export of foreign currency is restricted to the amount imported.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 1035.90 | 1025.70 | 1038.27 | 966.15 | | $1.00= | 710.84 | 674.41 | 656.55 | 606.78 |
Banking hours: 0620-1300 Monday to Friday (counters close at 1130).
Duty Free
The following items may be imported into Congo by visitors over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 1 box of cigars or tobacco (women are permitted to import cigarettes only); 1 bottle of spirits and 1 bottle of wine; a reasonable quantity of perfume in opened bottles.
Note: If importing expensive items such as watches and cameras, it is advisable to present the receipt.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 5 President's Day. Feb 8 Youth Day. Mar 8 Congolese Women's Day. Mar 18 Marien Ngouabi Day. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 22 Foundation of the National People's Army. Jul 31 Upswing of the Revolution Congo. Aug 15 Independence Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Dec 31 Republic Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 5 President's Day. Feb 8 Youth Day. Mar 8 Congolese Women's Day. Mar 18 Marien Ngouabi Day. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 22 Foundation of the National People's Army. Jul 31 Upswing of the Revolution Congo. Aug 15 Independence Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Dec 31 Republic Day.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | Yes | 2 | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers over one year of age.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Congo. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix.
3: Immunisations or boosters for typhoid and poliomyelitis are advised.
4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. A weekly dose of 250mg of mefloquine is the recommended prophylaxis.
Food & Drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. River blindness (onchocerciasis) and sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) are also prevalent. Hepatitis A is widespread and hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Meningococcal A and C have been reported and immunisation is recommended.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Medical and dental facilities are generally very limited outside Brazzaville. Health insurance is essential.
Travel - International
Note: Travellers should avoid leaving Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, and these towns should only be visited on essential business. Consult official government travel advice before travelling.
AIR: Air Afrique (of which Congo is a minority shareholder), Air France, Air Gabon, Aero-Service, Business Aviation and Cameroon Airlines operate international services to Congo.
Approximate flight times: From London to Brazzaville is approximately 11 hours (including up to 3 hours for stopover in Paris).
International airports: Brazzaville (BZV) (Maya Maya) is 4km (2 miles) northwest of the city. Buses and taxis are available to the city. Airport facilities include a restaurant and car hire (Europcar, InterRent and Hertz).
Pointe-Noire (PNR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from the city. Taxis are available to the city.
Departure tax: None.
SEA/RIVER: Cargo ships dock at Pointe-Noire. An hourly car ferry operates between Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville across the Congo River (travel time – 20 minutes). Ferries operate to and from the Central African Republic on the Ubangi.
ROAD: There is a road connection from Lambaréné in Gabon to Loubomo and Brazzaville. The road from Cameroon is usable only during the dry season. There is a good road between Pointe Noire and Cabinda (Angola). Entry can also be made via the Democratic Republic of Congo. Documentation: A carnet de passage en douane is needed to cross land borders between Congo and the neighbouring countries. Further information can be obtained from national motoring organisations.
Travel - Internal
AIR: The national airline Lina Congo (GC) operates regular services from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire, with stops in Loubomo and Ouesso. Private charters are available.
Departure tax: CFAfr 3400 on internal flights.
RIVER: Inland steamers ply from Brazzaville up the Congo and Ubangi. Rivers are vital to internal transport.
RAIL: Congo-Océan railway company operates services between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire (travel time – up to three days). Known as the 'Peace Train', this service recommenced recently, following a long suspension due to civil war. Services between Mbinda and Pointe Noire are also due to resume soon. Advance booking is recommended. Children under five travel free. Half-fare is charged for children aged five to nine.
ROAD: Roads are mostly earth tracks, sandy in dry season and impassable in the wet, suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles only. There are 1240km (770 miles) of paved roads. Traffic drives on the right. Poorly marked army checkpoints, often manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Travel at night on unfamiliar roads can be dangerous and should be avoided. Car hire: There are several car hire firms represented in Brazzaville, lists of which can be obtained from main hotels. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
URBAN: Brazzaville has a minibus and taxi service. Taxis are also available in Pointe-Noire and Loubomo. Taxi fares have a flat rate and fares should be agreed beforehand.
Accommodation
There are five good hotels in Brazzaville, three in Loubomo and four in Pointe-Noire. Prices and advance bookings can be obtained via Air France. Outside the towns mentioned above, accommodation for visitors is limited. For further details, contact the Direction Générale du Hotellerie (see Contact Addresses section).
Introduction
The capital city of Brazzaville is situated on the west side of Malebo Pool on the River Congo. Sights to see include the beautiful Basilique Sainte Anne, the colourful suburb of Poto Poto, the Temple Mosque, the markets at Oluendze and Moungali, the National Museum, the Municipal Gardens and the house constructed for de Gaulle when Brazzaville was the capital of Free France. There is a golf course at the Cité du Djoué. The first church in Congo was built in 1882 by a French priest and is located in Linzolo 30km (19 miles) from the capital. The city is also home to the regional seat of the World Health Organization and a good market. 150km (90 miles) north of the capital is the historic village of M’Bé, the capital of King Makoko. Also in this region is Lac Bleu with good fishing available and the Valley of Butterflies.
To the south of Brazzaville are the Congo Rapids (9km/6 miles away by tarred road), the Loufoulakari Falls and the Trou de Dieu, above which there is a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
The main town on the coast is Pointe-Noire (with its lively evening market), and there are several good beaches close by in the region known as the Côte Sauvage. Around 20km (12 miles) from the city are the villages of Loango and Diosso. Loango was the main embarkation port for slaves and it is estimated that more than two million people were transported from here. The Gorges of Diosso, spectacular cliffs formed by the erosion of the sea and the wind, are worth visiting.
The landscape in the north of the country is distinguished by huge tracts of virgin forest with an abundance of wildlife. The forest is also home to several indigenous tribes who have maintained their traditional way of life.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Restaurants provide mostly French cuisine, and the coast has excellent fish, giant oysters and shrimps. In Brazzaville the main hotels have good restaurants serving French cuisine, and there are also restaurants specialising in Italian, Lebanese and Vietnamese dishes. Some restaurants, such as those at Nanga Lake and Grand Hotel in Loubomo, specialise in African dishes such as piri piri chicken (with pepper), Mouamba chicken in palm oil, palm cabbage salad and cassava leaves, saka saka (ground cassava leaves cooked with palm oil and peanut paste) and Maboke (freshwater fish cooked in large marantacee leaves). Pointe-Noire and Loubomo also have restaurants and bars, usually in hotels, with table service. Some bars also have counter service.
Nightlife: Local groups are popular in the main towns. Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have several nightclubs.
Shopping: In Brazzaville there are shops and colourful markets. An arts and crafts centre at Poto Poto sells, amongst other things, local paintings and carved wooden masks and figures. The two main markets are Moungali and Ouenze. Avenue Foch is crowded with street vendors. Basketwork can be bought at the villages of Makana and M’Pila (3km/2 miles from Brazzaville), with pottery and an open-air market. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1800. Some shops close on Monday afternoon and a few will open on Sunday morning.
Special Events: For full details of events in 2003 contact the Direction Générale du Hotellerie (see Contact Addresses section).
Social Conventions: Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting people’s homes. Gifts are acceptable as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. Dress should be casual, and informal wear is acceptable in most places. Mini skirts and shorts should not be worn in most public places, however. Artistic carving, both traditional and modern dance, as well as folk songs play an important part in Congolese culture, which is strongly based on tradition. There are large numbers of foreigners resident in Congo, working as technical assistants, businessmen and traders. Photography: It is forbidden to photograph public buildings. Tipping: Normally ten per cent in hotels and restaurants. Porters and taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Business Profile
Economy: About 60 per cent of the country is covered by tropical forest, roughly half of which can be exploited economically. Forestry is thus an important part of the economy and, along with agriculture, employs about two-thirds of the working population. Both subsistence (cassava, plantains) and cash crops (sugar, palm oil, coffee, cocoa) are grown; even so, Congo continues to depend on a large quantity of imported food. A further 20 per cent of the workforce is employed in various industries, of which the most important is oil. The first field came on stream in 1960 and the industry now accounts for 90 per cent of Congo’s export earnings; it also allows the country a trade balance under normal circumstances, even though the oil sector’s contribution to GNP has dropped from 40 per cent in 1985 to 15 per cent at the end of the 1990s (largely a result of low world prices throughout the 1990s). Strengthening of the non-oil economy remains the main long-term objective. Unfortunately, the government’s economic planning and reforms have been undermined by political instability, erratic implementation of the programme, and fractious relations with the IMF and World Bank (which have underwritten it). However, a recent sharp rise in oil prices and the settlement of the internal power struggle offer better short-term prospects. The USA is the largest oil purchaser, followed by France and Spain. France provides two-thirds of Congo’s imports, consisting largely of machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, iron and steel as well as foodstuffs. Italy, Spain and Japan are also important trading partners in the industrialised world. Congo is a member of the CFA Franc Zone and of the Central African Economic and Customs Union (CEEAC).
Business: Jackets and ties are not usually worn by men on business visits but are expected when visiting government officials. A knowledge of French is essential as there are no professional translators available. Normal courtesies should be observed and the best months for business visits are January to March and June to September. Office hours: Usually Mon-Fri 0700-1400, Sat 0700-1200.
Climate
Equatorial climate with short rains from October to December and long rains between mid-January and mid-May. The main dry season is from June to September.
Required clothing: Practical lightweight cottons and linens with a light raincoat or umbrella in the rainy season.
History and Government
History: The country now known as the Republic of Congo was originally part of the kingdom of the Kongo, and the Bakongo, Bateke and Dsanga were the main peoples in the area when the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century. It later became a major centre of the European slave trade. In 1882 the territory was occupied by France, then absorbed into French Equatorial Africa in 1910.
In 1958, the territory became an autonomous republic within the French community before being granted full independence as a republic in August 1960. Abbé Fulbert Youlou, a Catholic priest, was elected President and guided the Congo into a single-party state, in accordance with the trend throughout Africa. A series of left-wing military governments followed until elections for the Presidency were held in 1979 and brought Colonel Denis Sassou-Nguesso to power as both head of the ruling Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT) and, after 1984, as head of the Government. In line with his predecessors, Sassou-Nguesso pursued a broadly socialist path of development. His position became gradually less secure after the mid-1980s with civil unrest following the introduction of austerity measures and an attempted coup in July 1987. Within the PCT, however, he remained unassailed, having been elected in 1989 for a third consecutive five-year term.
In November 1989, the Government introduced free-market policies, promoting private enterprise and conducting several privatisations. The political reform process began in 1991 with a national conference to discuss the future of the country. This agreed to establish a Higher Council of the Republic, abolishing the principal organs of state and with a brief to prepare legislative and presidential elections for the following year. These took place in the summer of 1992, bringing to power the Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale (UPADS) as the major party in both the National Assembly and the Senate while its leader, Pascal Lissouba, won the presidential poll. Over the next few years, there were occasional outbreaks of fighting between the army and militias loyal to Sassou-Nguesso. These intensified from 1997 onwards when, with some support from allies in Angola, Sassou-Nguesso launched a full-scale military campaign against the Lissouba government. In October 1997, Sassou-Nguesso’s troops took the capital and installed their leader as President.
A National Transitional Council was established in January 1998 to plot a course towards national elections and a return to civilian rule. However, over the next four years, the military government came under sustained military assault, first from supporters of Lissouba and then from ex-government troops loyal to ex-premier Bernard Kolelas who had been dismissed by Sassou-Nguesso. Repeated attempts at mediation by outside parties failed until, in April 2001, a formula devised by President Omar Bongo of Gabon and backed by the Organisation of African Unity secured the agreement of both sides. Under the banner of United Democratic Forces, Sassou-Ngessou stood at the March 2002 presidential election, defeating four other token candidates and securing 90 per cent of the vote. Kignomba Mbougou, standing for UPADS (Lissouba’s party) gained just three per cent.
Government: Following the military takeover in 1997, an appointed 75-member Conseil National de Transition was created to replace the parliament. A new constitution, concentrating most powers in the hands of an elected Pesident, was accepted by popular referendum in January 2002.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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