Congo, Republic of Country & Tourist Information

Location
West coast of Central Africa.

Area
342,000 sq km (132,046 sq miles).

Population
3 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
11 per sq km.

Capital
Brazzaville.
Population: 600,000 (2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.

Language
The official language is French. Other major languages are Lingala, Munukutuba and Kikongo. English is spoken very little.

Religion
The majority follow Christian beliefs (mainly Roman Catholic: 50%), with most of the remainder following animist belief systems (48%). There are small Protestant and Muslim minorities.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220/230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of State
President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.

Recent History
In 1992, the Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale (UPADS) was brought to power 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 Organization 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% of the vote. Kignomba Mbougou, standing for UPADS (Lissouba’s party) gained just 3%. By mid 2003, the country was largely at peace, although there has been fighting in the Pool region, adjacent to the capital, Brazzaville, between the army and a rebel group known as the Ninjas: although this has been sporadic, it has caused a serious refugee problem.

Telephone
Country code: 242. Links with Western Europe are generally poor.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mainly limited to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.

Internet
Limited access. Facilities are available at some hotels.

Media
Broadcasts on state-run radio and television stations generally reflect government views. Broadcasts from neighboring Congo (Dem Rep) can be received, and rebroadcasts of Radio France Internationale, the BBC and Voice of America are available in Brazzaville. There are now no prison terms for libel and insult but incitement to violence and racism remains punishable. All newspapers in Brazzaville are all privately-owned and some may include criticism of the government.


Post
There is an unreliable internal service. Post takes four to 18 days to arrive in Europe.

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 ACI Actualité, Aujourd’hui and Mweti Journal de Brazzaville.

Radio
• Radio Brazzaville and Radio Congo are state run (the former is limited to the capital area only).
• Radio Liberté is a privately-run station.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
8 Mar Congolese Women's Day.
1 May Labor Day.
10 Jun Commemoration of the National Sovereign Conference.
15 Aug National Day.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
8 Mar Congolese Women's Day.
1 May Labor Day.
10 Jun Commemoration of the National Sovereign Conference.
15 Aug National Day.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Direction Generale du Tourisme et des Loisirs
BP 456, Brazzaville, Congo
Tel: 830 953.

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Congo in the UK
Arena, 24 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HF, UK
Tel: (020) 7922 0695.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1030-1530.

Embassy of the Republic of Congo and Tourist Office in France
37 bis rue Paul Valéry, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4500 6057.

Embassy of the Republic of Congo in the USA
4891 Colorado Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20011, USA
Tel: (202) 726 0825 or 5500.


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