Travel & safety — Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) is a developing nation in Central Africa. The official language is French, and Lingala, Kikongo, and Kituba are also widely spoken. The largest cities are the capital, Brazzaville, located on the Congo River, and Pointe Noire, on the Atlantic coast. Parts of the capital and large areas in the south of the country were damaged during civil conflicts from 1997 to 1999. The last rebel group signed a cease-fire accord with the government in March 2003. Facilities for tourism are very limited.

Although the Republic of the Congo is still recovering from its civil war, there have been no serious episodes of unrest or violence since the March 2003 peace accord. Continued security awareness, however, remains a key consideration for all visitors. You should avoid travel in the Pool region south of Brazzaville. Although terrorism has not been a recent problem in the Republic of the Congo, the Ninjas (a former rebel group) reside in the Pool Region, especially in and around the village of Kinkala. Although they do not specifically target U.S. citizens, they do routinely establish roadblocks and conduct highway robberies. For this reason, the Embassy advises against travel by road between Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. In the past, the passenger train connecting Brazzaville and Point Noire passed through this region and train passengers have been robbed; however, there has been a recent push by the government to improve the comfort and safety of the rail connection between Congo’s two largest cities. For more on these developments, feel free to contact the Embassy as we will continue to monitor these improvements. You should also pay close attention to events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as unrest in Kinshasa can also affect Brazzaville. In 2007, stray small arms fire originating in Kinshasa landed in Brazzaville.

While you are traveling in the Republic of the Congo, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. It is important to carry some form of identification at all times. Wallets should contain only a small amount of cash and be free of all credit cards. You may be taken in for questioning if you are stopped by the police and are unable to produce an acceptable form of identification. A common practice among policemen is to stop foreigners and accuse them of minor infractions (which may or may not be valid). When this occurs, the police do not want to write a ticket, but rather request the person to pay a fine on the spot. The U.S.

While in the Republic of the Congo, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic safety in general is hazardous due to high speeds, aggressive driving, poorly maintained vehicles, and general indifference toward the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. The information below concerning the Republic of the Congo is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Road conditions are generally poor and deteriorate significantly during the rainy season from November to May. The National Highway 2, which links Brazzaville to Pointe Noire, is largely unpaved and often impassable in the rainy season. Unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel are frequently unavailable in the major cities and especially in the more isolated regions of the country. Maintenance of the few paved roads is limited. Overland travel off the main roads requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly-marked checkpoints, sometimes manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist in many areas of the countryside. Bus travel is strongly discouraged. While there are no officially registered taxi companies in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire, taxis are required to have an operator permit. Many taxi drivers are owner-operators. In the past several years, there have not been any reported criminal incidents involving U.S. citizens using taxis in Brazzaville or Pointe Noire. Hire only taxis painted in the government-authorized green and white color scheme in Brazzaville and blue and white color scheme in Pointe Noire. Taxis are not metered, so fares should be negotiated before passengers embark. Most taxi drivers will always round-up fares or not return change. Emergency services are limited within Brazzaville and Pointe Noire and virtually non-existent elsewhere in the Republic of the Congo. Please refer to the medical section above. There are currently no Distracted Driving Laws in effect in the Republic of the Congo, but police may pull over drivers who talk or text while driving for not following safe driving procedures.