2019 Edition

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 took office in 1992. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992, and sparked a short period of ethnic and political unrest that was resolved by a peace agreement in late 1999. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and elections arranged shortly thereafter installed SASSOU-Nguesso. Following a year of renewed fighting, President SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reeelected in 2009 and, after passing a referendum allowing him to run for a third term, was reelected again in 2016. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Area

Land

341,500 sq km

Total

342,000 sq km

Water

500 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

Climate

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Coastline

169 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Mount Berongou 903 m

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

430 m

Environment Current Issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Signed But Not Ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography Note

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Irrigated Land

20 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1229 km, Gabon 2567 km

Total

5,008 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

31.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

1.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

29.3% (2011 est.)

Forest

65.6% (2011 est.)

Other

3.3% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

Contiguous Zone

24 nm

Exclusive Economic Zone

200 nm

Territorial Sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

seasonal flooding

Natural Resources

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Population Distribution

the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Age Structure

0 14 Years

41.75% (male 1,066,474 /female 1,046,924)

15 24 Years

16.99% (male 431,279 /female 428,999)

25 54 Years

33.77% (male 857,596 /female 851,712)

55 64 Years

4.39% (male 112,669 /female 109,429)

65 Years And Over

3.1% (male 69,621 /female 87,318) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

33.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

12.3% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

30.1% (2014/15)

Current Health Expenditure

4.6% (2016)

Death Rate

9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

6.2 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

16.1 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

84.5 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

78.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

40% of population

Improved Total

76.5% of population

Improved Urban

95.8% of population

Unimproved Rural

60% of population

Unimproved Total

23.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

4.2% of population

Education Expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic Groups

Kongo 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, foreigner 8.2%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele 4.4%, Punu 4.3%, Pygmy 1.6%, Oubanguiens 1.6%, Duma 1.5%, Makaa 1.3%, other and unspecified 1% (2014-15 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

2.6% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

4,000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

89,000 (2018 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

48.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

58.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

53.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

61.6 years

Male

59 years

Total Population

60.3 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

72.9% (2015)

Male

86.4%

Total Population

79.3%

Major Infectious Diseases

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2016)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria and dengue fever (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

2.308 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.176 million Pointe-Noire (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

378 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

19.8 years

Male

19.4 years

Total

19.6 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

19.8 years (2011/12 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Congolese or Congo

Noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

9.6% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

5,062,021 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.17% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

5.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

15% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

20% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

94.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

85% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

80% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

11 years (2012)

Male

11 years

Total

11 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.02 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.8 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

4.26 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

3.28% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

67.4% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

Name

Brazzaville

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

10 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country’s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable (2017)

History

several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of the Congo

Conventional Short Form

Congo (Brazzaville)

Etymology

named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters"

Former

French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville

Local Long Form

Republique du Congo

Local Short Form

Congo

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Todd P. HASKELL (since July 2017)

Embassy

70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville

Mailing Address

B.P. 1015, Brazzaville

Telephone

[242] 06 612-2000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)

Fax

[1] (202) 726-1860

Telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief Of State

President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997)

Election Results

Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 60.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 15.1%, Jean-Marie MOKOKO (independent) 13.9%, Pascal Tsaty MABIALA (UPADS) 4.4%, other 6.2%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 24 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister (2019)

Flag Description

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years

Subordinate Courts

Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative Branch

Description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every 3 years) National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9%

Elections

Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE

Name

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

National Symbol S

lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] Citizen's Rally or RC [Claude Alphonse NSILOU] Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA] Prospects and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP Republican and Liberal Party or PRL [Bonaventure MIZIDY] Union for the Republic or UR Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR many smaller parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

cassava (manioc, tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Budget

Expenditures

2.578 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

1.965 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2008

4.75%

31 December 2009

4.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

14%

31 December 2017

14.6%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$5.735 billion

2017

-$1.128 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$4.721 billion

31 December 2017

$4.605 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2011

48.9

Economy Overview

The Republic of the Congo’s economy is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and shares a common currency – the Central African Franc – with five other member states in the region.The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices that began in 2014 has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. The fiscal deficit amounted to 11% of GDP in 2017. The government’s inability to pay civil servant salaries has resulted in multiple rounds of strikes by many groups, including doctors, nurses, and teachers. In the wake of a multi-year recession, the country reached out to the IMF in 2017 for a new program; the IMF noted that the country’s continued dependence on oil, unsustainable debt, and significant governance weakness are key impediments to the country’s economy. In 2018, the country’s external debt level will approach 120% of GDP. The IMF urged the government to renegotiate debts levels to sustainable levels before it agreed to a new macroeconomic adjustment package.

Exchange Rates

2013

494.42

2014

591.45

2015

593.01

2016

593.01

2017

579.8

Currency

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$4.116 billion

2017

$4.193 billion

Exports Commodities

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports Partners

China 53.8%, Angola 6.2%, Gabon 5.7%, Italy 5.4%, Spain 5.4%, Australia 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

62.9% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

9.6% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

47.6% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-62.7% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

42.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

9.3% (2017 est.)

Industry

51% (2017 est.)

Services

39.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$8.718 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$7,500

2016

$7,200

2017

$6,800

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$31.22 billion

2016

$30.33 billion

2017

$29.39 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

2.6%

2016

-2.8%

2017

-3.1%

Gross National Saving

2015

6.6% of GDP

2016

-12.8% of GDP

2017

19.5% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

37.1% (2005)

Lowest 10

2.1%

Imports

2016

$5.639 billion

2017

$2.501 billion

Imports Commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports Partners

France 15%, China 14%, Belgium 12.2%, Norway 8.1% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-3% (2017 est.)

Industries

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

3.2%

2017

0.5%

Labor Force

2.055 million (2016 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

35.4%

Industry

20.6%

Services

44% (2005 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public Debt

2016

128.7% of GDP

2017

130.8% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$727.1 million

31 December 2017

$505.7 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$2.456 billion

31 December 2017

$2.585 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$2.901 billion

31 December 2017

$3.036 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$2.456 billion

31 December 2017

$2.585 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

22.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

36%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

5.239 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

254,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

340,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

22.6% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

56.6% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

74.2% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

2 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

912 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

22 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

64% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

36% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

18 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

591,500 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

1.696 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

1.387 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

1.387 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

5,766 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

7,162 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

15,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadcast Media

1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available

Internet Country Code

.cg

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

7.6% (July 2016 est.)

Total

362,000

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 102 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order (2018)

International

country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

17,000

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

102 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

5.056 million

Airports

27 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

5 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

1 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2017)

Total

8 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

8 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

9 (2013)

Total

19 (2013)

Under 914 M

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

TN (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 3, oil tanker 2, other 11 (2018)

Total

16

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

2,987,493 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

657,926 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

12 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

3 (2015)

Pipelines

232 km gas, 4 km liquid petroleum gas, 982 km oil (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Major Seaport S

Pointe-Noire

Oil Terminal S

Djeno

River Port S

Brazzaville (Congo)

Railways

Narrow Gauge

510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Total

510 km (2014)

Roadways

Paved

3,111 km (2017)

Total

23,324 km (2017)

Unpaved

20,213 km (2017)

Waterways

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011)

Military And Security Forces

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Presidential Guard (2019)

Military Expenditures

2013

4.61% of GDP

2014

5% of GDP

2016

6.38% of GDP

2017

4.27% of GDP

2018

2.55% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2012)

Disputes International

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

107,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2018)

Refugees Country Of Origin

22,198 (Central African Republic), 20,289 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019)

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015)