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Republic of the Congo
Africa
Known as Congo-Brazzaville, this country has a resource-based economy, especially oil, and shares the Congo River with its larger neighbor, the DRC.
6,000,000
Population
342,000
Area (km²)
Brazzaville
Capital
13
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
13 Events
July 10, 2025 - A cholera outbreak is declared in the Ile de Mbamou health district of Brazzaville, with multiple diarrhea cases reported, straining public health resources.
May 26, 2025 - May 26–30: The First Global Congress of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities opens in Brazzaville, gathering representatives from tropical forest basins to address rights and conservation.
May 11, 2025 - Opposition leader Lassy Mbouity of the Les Socialistes Congolais party is abducted in Brazzaville ahead of the 2026 elections, sparking international outcry over political repression.
March 24, 2025 - March 24–26: The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) convenes in Brazzaville, featuring ministers of water, energy, tourism, and environment to promote sustainable growth and attract investments.
March 01, 2025 - March: National Assembly member Aimé Hydevert Mouagni, aligned with the governing majority, is detained after criticizing the government, raising concerns over dissent suppression.
February 06, 2025 - FIFA suspends the Congolese Football Federation over governance issues, impacting national soccer participation.
October 01, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Alphonse Souchlaty Poaty dies in France, marking the loss of a key political figure from the Sassou Nguesso era.
June 26, 2024 - An NGO report documents a rise in torture and human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and restrictions on freedoms.
May 19, 2024 - A shell from a failed coup attempt in neighboring DR Congo lands in Brazzaville, injuring several people and underscoring cross-border security risks.
March 15, 2024 - The country reports its first mpox cases in several regions, triggering public health alerts and vaccination efforts.
November 20, 2023 - The Brazzaville stampede at a football match kills 37 people and injures 150, prompting investigations into crowd control failures at public events.
October 09, 2023 - The World Bank releases a report urging the Republic of the Congo to leverage its forests for climate finance, potentially reducing rural poverty by 40% through sustainable initiatives.
January 04, 2023 - Severe flooding strikes northern regions, displacing communities and highlighting vulnerability to climate impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Republic of the Congo
100 Questions
It is in Central Africa, bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola’s Cabinda exclave.
The capital is Brazzaville, located along the Congo River opposite Kinshasa.
Around 6 million people as of 2025 estimates.
French is the official language. Lingala and Kituba are widely spoken national languages, alongside many local languages.
Tropical, with a rainy season (March–June, September–November) and a dry season (July–August, December–February).
The Central African CFA franc (XAF).
Diagonal tricolor of green (top), yellow (middle), and red (bottom).
Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, Nkayi, and Owando.
On August 15, 1960, from France.
Fulbert Youlou.
Denis Sassou Nguesso (as of 2025).
He has ruled for most of the period since 1979, with a short break in the 1990s.
A unitary presidential republic.
Kongo, Teke, M’Boshi, and many smaller groups.
Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), along with Islam and traditional beliefs.
Around $14 billion in 2025 estimates.
Around $2,200.
Around 80%.
About 64 years.
About 4.5 children per woman.
Around 60%.
Oil, timber, copper, cocoa, coffee, and sugar.
Machinery, food, vehicles, and manufactured goods.
Oil, natural gas, timber, potash, copper, and diamonds.
It provides over 70% of export revenues.
A coastal city and the main port, important for oil exports.
The second-longest river in Africa, vital for trade, fishing, and transport.
Mont Nabemba (1,020 m).
Atlantic Ocean coastline.
West Africa Time (WAT), UTC +1.
Cassava, maize, rice, plantains, peanuts, and fish.
A dish made from cassava leaves.
A starchy staple made from cassava or maize flour.
Palm wine, millet beer, and ginger juice.
Poulet Moambé (chicken in palm butter sauce).
Football, basketball, and handball.
Yes, once in 1972.
Not yet.
Thievy Bifouma and Christopher Samba.
Yes, mainly in athletics, judo, and boxing.
Congolese rumba, soukous, and traditional drumming.
Aurlus Mabélé and Extra Musica.
Colorful wrappers, tunics, and modern styles in cities.
Active in agriculture, markets, and small trade, but less represented in politics.
Around 75%.
Around 85%.
High, especially among youth.
Around 40%, though the economy is dominated by oil.
Cassava, maize, peanuts, bananas, and sugarcane.
Goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry.
Moderate, linked to oil prices.
Marien Ngouabi University (Brazzaville) and private institutions.
Limited, with better services in cities than rural areas.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, and diarrheal diseases.
High, but slowly improving.
Also high, reflecting weak healthcare access.
“La Congolaise.”
“Unité, Travail, Progrès” (“Unity, Work, Progress”).
The okapi (shared with DRC but symbolic).
The grey parrot.
The flame tree blossom.
Christianity (Catholic and Protestant) and traditional beliefs.
Political capital, culture, and its position opposite Kinshasa.
Port city and center of the oil industry.
Fespam (African Music Festival), Independence Day, and regional harvest festivals.
A Pan-African music festival held in Brazzaville.
Central to identity, celebrations, and storytelling.
Traditional and modern dance styles are important in cultural life.
Wood carving, mask making, and weaving.
Vital for trade, food, and cultural traditions.
Much higher, above 85%.
Around $2,200 annually.
Gradually declining but still high.
Around 65%, with most in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
Focused on farming and forestry.
Oil and hydropower.
High, especially in hydropower and solar.
Dependence on oil and limited diversification.
Authoritarian rule and weak opposition.
Large communities in France and neighboring African countries.
Important for family support but smaller than oil revenue.
Strong economic and political influence.
Major investor in oil and infrastructure.
Trade and oil investments.
Supports political stability and integration.
Gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees, and forest antelopes.
Odzala-Kokoua, Nouabalé-Ndoki, and Conkouati-Douli.
A rainforest park home to gorillas and elephants.
Part of the Sangha Trinational UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A coastal park with forests, savannah, and marine life.
Logging, poaching, and weak enforcement.
Still influential in rural areas.
Dominant religion in national identity.
A minority but present in trade and urban centers.
Reducing malaria and maternal mortality.
Improving access and quality in rural areas.
Around 10% difference.
Moderate, tied to oil markets.
Dependent on diversifying beyond oil and improving governance.
It is a key oil producer, cultural hub, and vital for Central African biodiversity.