Capital: Brazzaville
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon (slightly smaller than Montana).
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
The U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville suspended operations at the time of the outbreak of the 1997 civil war and has not re-opened. A U.S. Ambassador is accredited to the Government of the Republic of the Congo and together with a small staff which operates from the Brazzaville U.S. Embassy Office, located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This office may, in some circumstances, be able to provide emergency U.S. citizen services. U.S. citizens living in or visiting the Republic of the Congo are encouraged to register with the Brazzaville U.S. Embassy Office or the Consular Section, both located at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs. The telephone number is 243-88-43608, and the mailing address from the U.S. is Brazzaville Embassy Office, American Embassy Kinshasa, Unit 31550, APO AE, 09828.
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO.
Ethnic Groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans NA%; note - Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that of 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Language:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has the most users)
Currency:
XAF
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Population:
2,894,336
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Medical:
Medical facilities were limited before the civil wars and have worsened as a consequence of the fighting. Some medicine is in short supply, particularly outside the larger cities. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines.
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
Safety:
Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, the second-largest city, are typical small central African cities. As result of 1997-1999 civil wars, there is evidence of extensive damage to the infrastructure in Brazzaville and in the southern part of the country. Disorganized bands of armed former militiamen remain in some areas in the southwest of the country but there have been no hostilities since peace accords were signed at the end of 1999. The war in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to insecurity in border areas in northern Republic of Congo along the Ubangui river. Travel to these regions is not recommended. Night travel outside of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire should be avoided.
U.S. citizens should avoid political rallies and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the Republic of Congo is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor to Non-existent
Road conditions are generally poor and deteriorate significantly during the rainy season, November-June. Maintenance of the few paved roads is limited. Overland travel off the main roads generally requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly marked armed checkpoints, sometimes manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Train travel between Brazzaville and Pointe Noire resumed in August 2000, but there are frequent reports of extortion by undisciplined security forces and robberies by criminal elements along the route.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
