Congo Travel Guide

Congo — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: West coast of Central Africa.
Language: The official language is French. Other major languages are Lingala, Munukutuba and Kikongo. English is spoken very little.
Area: 342,000 sq km (132,046 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220/230 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 3 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 11 per sq km.
Capital City: Brazzaville. Population: 600,000 (2005).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.
Head of State: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997.
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.

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.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . 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.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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas

2011
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

2012
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