Republic of the Congo

[[file:Congo banner Congo River.JPG The ' Republic of the Congo' is in Central Africa. The country is commonly called Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from its giant eastern neighbour and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon and the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola (the exclave of Cabinda).

Regions of Republic of the Congo

While Congo's regions are diverse and there is one constant you can rely on: about 80% of the entire country is covered in the dense Congo Rainforest.

Coast and Mayombe

Congolese Plateau

Cuvette

Niari Valley

Pool

Sangha and Likouala

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Reference ##3a5a9 Sangha and Likouala }}

Cities

• Brazzaville — the capital of the Republic of the Congo. It is separated from Kinshasa and the capital of neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, by the Congo River.
• Abala-Ndolo
• Djambala
• Dolisie
• Mossendjo
• Ouésso — a transit hub in the remotest far north of the nation, in a territory with many nearby Pygmy villages.
• Owando — considered one of the best places to visit in the north of Republic of Congo.
• Pointe-Noire_(Republic_of_the_Congo) | Pointe Noire — a port city on the coast.

More Destinations

Alima - Congo - Landscape at the Alima river, a tributary to the Congo river

• Conkouati Reserve
• Ile Mbamou| Ile Mbamou Island — a government-owned island that is located about one hour from Brazzaville.
• Lefini Reserve — the nation's best known reserve, bordering Lesio-Louna to the north.
• The Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve — a park located north of Brazzaville and is dedicated to the protection of gorillas in the Congo.
• Mount Fouari National Reserve
• Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park — the largest and most remote of Congo's national parks and reserves, located in the far north bordering the Central African Republic's Dzanga Sangha National Reserve.
• Odzala National Park — the nation's most famous national park.
• Tiger Fish Congo Camp . You can visit the Tiger Fish Camp to capture the biggest tiger fish in the world - the largest fish ever caught there was 56kg!

  Republic of the Congo Halal Travel Guide

{{quickbar|LocationRCongo.png|1280px]] Poto poto - View of Brazzaville

Following independence as the Congo Republic on August 15, 1960, Fulbert Youlou ruled as the nation's first president until labour elements and rival political parties instigated a three-day uprising that ousted him. The Congolese military took charge of the nation briefly and installed a civilian provisional government headed by Alphonse Massamba-Débat.

Under the 1963 constitution, Massamba-Débat was elected President for a five-year term but it was ended abruptly with an August 1968 coup d'état. Capt. Marien Ngouabi, who had participated in the coup, assumed the presidency on 31 December 1968. One year later, President Ngouabi proclaimed Congo to be Africa's first "people's republic" and announced the decision of the National Revolutionary Movement to change its name to the Congolese Labour Party (PCT). On 16 March 1977, President Ngouabi was assassinated. An 11-member Military Committee of the Party (CMP) was named to head an interim government with Col. (later Gen.) Joachim Yhombi-Opango to serve as President of the Republic.

After decades of turbulent politics bolstered by Marxist-Leninist rhetoric, and with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Congo completed a transition to multi-party democracy with elections in August 1992. Denis Sassou Nguesso conceded defeat and Congo's new president, Prof. Pascal Lissouba, was inaugurated on 31 August 1992.

However, Congo's democratic progress was derailed in 1997. As presidential elections opened inJuly 1997 approached, tensions between the Lissouba and Sassou camps mounted. On 5 June, President Lissouba's government forces surrounded Sassou's compound in Brazzaville and Sassou ordered members of his private militia, known as "Cobras", to resist. Thus began a 4-month conflict that destroyed or damaged much of Brazzaville and caused tens of thousands of civilian deaths. In early October, Angolan troops invaded Congo on the side of Sassou and, in mid-October and the Lissouba government fell. Soon thereafter, Sassou declared himself President. The Congo Civil War continued for another year and a half until a peace deal was struck between the various factions in December 1999.

Elephants et buffled dans le parc des Virungas, 2003 - Elephants and African buffaloes in Virunga National Park

In sham elections in 2002, Sassou won with almost 90% of the vote cast. His two main rivals Lissouba and Bernard Kolelas were prevented from competing and the only remaining credible rival, Andre Milongo, advised his supporters to boycott the elections and then withdrew from the race. A new constitution, agreed upon by referendum in January 2002, granted the president new powers and also extended his term to seven years as well as introducing a new bicameral assembly. International observers took issue with the organization of the presidential election as well as the constitutional referendum, both of which were reminiscent in their organization of Congo's perioid of the one-party state.

Elections in July 2009 were boycotted by opposition parties. Inevitably, Sassou was re-elected, but with a questionably high turnout. Demonstrations in Brazzaville were firmly put down by riot police.

The Republic of the Congo's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the nation, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited. Thus and the Republic of Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 85% of its total population living in a few urban areas, namely in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or one of the small cities or villages lining the 332-mile (534 kilometers) railway which connects the two cities. In rural areas, industrial and commercial activity has declined rapidly, leaving rural economies dependent on the government for support and subsistence. Before the 1997 war, about 15,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Only about 9,500 remain.

Travel to Republic of the Congo

Visa policy of the Republic of the Congo - A map showing the visa requirements of Republic of the Congo

Visa requirements

The following countries can enter the Republic of the Congo for 90 days without a visa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Muslims of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, and Togo can also obtain a visa on arrival. Muslims of other countries require a visa in advance, and showing up without one can cause many things you will want to avoid at all costs (fines, passport confiscation, etc.). However transit without a visa is feasible, if you take the next connecting plane and don't leave the airport.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Republic of the Congo

Aeroport Maya-Maya - Maya-Maya airport

Maya-Maya Airport (IATA Flight Code: BZV) in Brazzaville is linked by Flights to by Air France, Douala in Cameroon, Addis Ababa and Kinshasa by Ethiopian Airlines, Nairobi, Casablanca and the national carrier, ECAir.

By car

It's safe to drive in the Republic of the Congo. A good sealed road goes north from Brazzaville, but only as far north as President Sassou's hometown of Oyo. Beyond Oyo and the roads get very bumpy and are totally impassable in the rain. It is also very hard to get a rental vehicle you drive yourself

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Republic of the Congo

Passenger and VIP ferries operate daily between Brazzaville and Kinshasa roughly every 2 hours between 8AM and 3PM. Prices for the ferries are: US$15 for the passenger and US$30 for the VIP ferry. The VIP ferry is recommended as these are brand new boats and are not as cramped. A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction. The bureaucracy at either end require some time. Entry and exit procedures in Brazzaville are "easy" and straight forward and people are very helpful in assisting to get through without troubles. In contrast and these procedures are a bit difficult in Kinshasa and depend much on whether you are an individual traveller or assisted by an organisation or an official government representative. There are also speed boats to hire, either in a group or alone (price!), however, it is not advisable to book them as they really speed across the river along the rapids.

Barges follow the Congo and then the Oubangui, rivers right up to Bangui.

How to get around in Republic of the Congo

Pointe-Noire Public Transport - Minibus and taxis in Pointe-Noire

By shared taxi or shuttle van

Ridiculously affordable shared taxis and shuttle vanes run on an ad hoc basis between towns and villages, crammed with Congolese villagers taking all sorts of livestock for sale in Brazzaville.

Best way to travel in Republic of the Congo by a Taxi

In Brazzaville, taxis are green. FCFA 700 generally gets you around a neighborhood. This goes up to FCFA 1000 at night. Drivers are generally fair with prices, and haggling is not required before getting in.

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Republic of the Congo

The Congo-Ocean Railway (COR, or CFCO) links the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire (now in the Republic of Congo) with Brazzaville, a distance of 502km.

From the start of the civil war in 1997 and the line was closed for six years. In 2007 the Al Jazeera reported it to be in a "decrepit state with the majority of trains now broken". UNICEF organised a train in August 2007 to distribute malaria nets vital in the prevention of the disease.

Local Language in Republic of the Congo

The official language of the RoC is French. The main indigenous languages are Kituba phrasebook|Kituba and Lingala phrasebook|Lingala.

What to see in Republic of the Congo

Epulu Okapi Reserve - Epulu river in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve

• Odzala National Park
• Gorillas in Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve.
• Colonial and post-colonial architecture in Brazzaville.
• Sangha Trinational - a forest in the Sangha and Likouala region that is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (shared with Cameroon and the Central African Republic).

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Republic of the Congo

Money Matters & ATM's in Republic of the Congo

The currency of the nation is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It's also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

The U.S. dollar is not widely accepted.

ATMs

All Ecobank ATMs in Gabon take Mastercard and Visa card for cash withdrawal.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Republic of the Congo

There is an artisan mart and boutiques in the market near the BDEAC (Banque Developpement pour les Etats de l'Afrique Centrale). Really beautiful jewelry, masks, paintings, and other artwork.

All business is conducted in cash. Small change is very scarce and hard to come by. Do not accept torn or taped banknotes.

Halal Restaurants in Republic of the Congo

Dried fish - Oyo - Congo - Dried fish for sale at the Oyo river market

There is good and healthy Chinese food at Osaka Restaurant, in Pointe Noire. The average price for a meal is US$12-18. All meals are served in nice clean dishes and the restaurant is indoors and has AC, with a back-up generator, just in case. Some of the workers speak English and French.

There are several great restaurants in Brazzaville. Any taxi driver can take you to one of these nicer places (FCFA 5000-15 000). Most places are closed on Sundays. Expect soft drinks to be overpriced here (FCFA 1000-2000).

Palm fruit cocktail is a local favorite in the village. Beer is the favorite in town next to Fanta, Coke etc. There is also a local red (SOVINCO) imported from Gabon and the "brique", a liter of imported, mostly Spanish from the box.

There is a big price range on organic juice (FCFA 500-5,000) depending on what neighborhood and type of bar or estaurant you're in.

Produced in Congo under Heineken supervision: N'Gok (meaning "Crocodile", blond, Congolese), Primus (blond, Belgium, Central Africa), Mütsig (blond, French Alsace Region), Guinness (dark, Ireland), and Turbo King (dark, Central Africa)

Imported: Heineken and Bavaria

If the above is too much there is also water of various local and imported brands sold in 1.5 litre plastic bottles.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Republic of the Congo

Republic of the Congo - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Republic of the Congo, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Republic of the Congo. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Republic of the Congo and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Republic of the Congo. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Republic of the Congo. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inRepublic of the Congo: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Republic of the Congo.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Republic of the Congo: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Republic of the Congo, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Republic of the Congo.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Republic of the Congo, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Republic of the Congo, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Republic of the Congo, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Republic of the Congo, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Republic of the Congo without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Republic of the Congo is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Republic of the Congo.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Republic of the Congo is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Republic of the Congo, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Republic of the Congo Media: info@ehalal.io

Stay Safe

In Brazzaville, petty street crime targeting foreigners is common. However, muggings and pick pocketing do happen frequently near the ports in Pointe Noire and Brazzaville, and sometimes in the Congolese neighborhoods surrounding Brazzaville's Downtown. Criminal elements are known to target middle-class and affluent residences without 24-hour guards.

Police resources are limited and response to emergency calls is slow. In the case of theft and robbery, legal recourse is limited and therefore, it is highly recommended to leave all valuable items at home.

There were demonstrations against the re-election of President Sassou in July 2009. Some foreign reporters were assaulted by riot police and had their equipment destroyed. It is generally safe to walk the streets, but stay well away from demonstrations.

Medical Issues in Republic of the Congo

Population 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. In any case use your common sense: do not have unprotected sex.

The likelihood of getting malaria is very high if effective preventative medication is not taken. The malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum can be very serious. Medical attention should be sought if any symptoms are shown.

Tap water is not drinkable, if it's even running at all.

Medical care is substandard throughout the nation. Hospitals lack modern equipment, necessary medical supplies and medications, and well-trained physicians, nurses and support staff.

• Netcare Clinic: - B.P. 2422, Brazzaville, Congo ☎ 547 0911 (Main Line) or 679 6711

This facility is a franchise from South Africa. It is clean, has facilities for 3 superior Muslim friendly rooms, an ambulance, a one bed emergency room, basic radiography, pharmacy and a laboratory with microscopy, haematology, and basic chemists. There are two main doctors, Dr. Ali, a Lebanese doctor who considered as the best medic in Netcare, and Dr. Stephan, a French doctor who is also a good doctor.

• Pharmacie Mavre ☎ 81 18 39

Located in Centreville, next to the Cabinet Dentaire building Brazzaville boasts a number of pharmacies, but Pharmacie Mavre is recommended. Please remember to always check the expiration dates on boxes before purchasing any products.

Local Customs in Republic of the Congo

White travelers should take care while travelling in the Republic. Racial tension and discrimination is not uncommon here, so be safe and keep to yourself.

Telecommunications in Republic of the Congo

You can talk to your loved ones using any of the three mobile operators MTN, CelTel (now Zain), or Warid

The local call rate are relatively affordable and cost you around FCFA 20-20 per minute.

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