Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• We advise against all travel to the Likouala province, due to a large influx of displaced people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). UNHCR estimates around 110,000 refugees are currently in Likouala province.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to the Pool region, as there is sporadic rebel activity there. We advise against travel on the Brazzaville-Pointe Noire railway due to safety concerns. A train derailment on this line in June 2010 caused the death of around 60 people.
  
  
• There is no British Embassy in the Republic of Congo. If you are resident in or visiting the Republic of Congo, you should register with the British Embassy in Kinshasa, DRC.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - Insurance.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
The incidence of street crime, armed robbery or vehicle hi-jacking is low in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. However, you should take security precautions i.e. do not walk in the streets after dark, or carry large amounts of money or valuables. The chance of being targeted increases in rural areas.

You should be aware that there are frequent vehicle checkpoints throughout the Republic of Congo. These can be poorly marked and we have had reports of police and military personnel targeting foreigners at these checkpoints to solicit bribes.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
We advise against all but essential travel to the Pool region, as there remains the risk of sporadic rebel activity and armed banditry.

The risk of rebel attacks on the coastal town of Pointe Noire itself is considered very low. However, we continue to receive reports of travellers who have been robbed by armed criminal gangs who target vehicles and trains around the Pool region. Road travel in the Pool region requires a permit from the Congolese army. You should travel between Brazzaville and Pointe Noire by air (but see Air Safety section).

Crime (sometimes armed) is committed against boats using the Ubangi River in the Likouala region, where the river forms the border with the DRC; this area is subject to periodic instability.

Think very carefully whether your journey is essential and avoid travelling at night.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Boat Travel
The river crossing/border with Kinshasa is subject to closure without warning. We advise you to check the situation before travelling.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Road conditions are generally poor and deteriorate during the wet season, which lasts from November to May. Overland travel off the main roads requires a four-wheel drive vehicle.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. Check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

For more general information see our Airline Security page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Congo (Rep of) Country Profile  

There remains a risk of rebel activity and sporadic fighting in some parts of the country (see Local Travel).

Whilst in the Republic of Congo, you should keep yourself updated on the local security situation. In the event of trouble in the capital you should remain indoors and follow local advice from the British Honorary Consul; the main town centre hotels tend to be relatively safe.

For more general information for different types of travellers see the Your trip page of the FCO website.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Visas are required to visit the Republic of Congo. Advice on visas can be obtained from the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Congo in the UK, 3rd Floor Holborn Gate (HRG), 26 Southampton Building, London' WC2A 1PN; Tel: 020 3077 9958; Fax: 020 7404 6810; Email: republicofcongo25@yahoo.co.uk.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter the Republic of Congo. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country. Failure to do so will result in a further vaccination being administered, for which a charge is made.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

If you become unwell during or immediately after travelling to the Republic of Congo, seek medical advice immediately. However, medical facilities in the country are extremely limited, particularly in rural areas, and medical evacuation is likely to be necessary for all by the most basic treatments (see General Insurance Section).

Water-borne diseases, malaria and cholera are common in Congo.

Malaria is endemic throughout the Republic of Congo. Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites; therefore try to minimise the chance of being bitten by wearing long sleeves and long trousers, especially at night. Anti-malarial tablets can also be used - please discuss with a pharmacist or doctor the most suitable for your circumstances.

An outbreak of measles has been reported in Pointe Noire and the Kouilou region. At least 800 people have been infected since the beginning of the year and over 600 required hospital treatment. More than 30 have died. Symptoms include fever, cough, conjunctivitis, rash and spots in the mouth (Koplik spots). Severe complications include pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can cause brain damage. Measles is sometimes fatal.

An outbreak of Chikungunya has been reported in Brazzaville, with at least 20 confirmed cases since early June 2011 and a further 900 suspected cases.  Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by mosquito bite.  Health authorities in the ROC report that cases have typically suffered from fever, skin lesions, headaches, muscle and joint pain and general fatigue.  If you suffer for any of these symptoms, please see medical attention immediately.  

An outbreak of Polio was reported in the Ponte Noire area in the latter part of 2010. 120 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (a syndrome related to polio) and eight deaths were reported. You should take sensible precautions to avoid contracting the disease: boil drinking water; wash vegetables properly; and cook cassava (the staple food) thoroughly.

There have been outbreaks of cholera in the last few years. Loudima district, in the south of the country, suffered from an outbreak in 2008. The majority of cases have been reported from Pointe Noire. Drink or use only boiled or bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to one of the affected areas in the Republic of Congo seek immediate medical attention.

Outbreaks of the human form of the Ebola fever have occurred in recent years. ‘Bush meat’ should not be eaten as this is widely thought to proliferate diseases, including Ebola.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 69,000 adults aged 15 or over in Republic of Congo were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 3.4% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Congo and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive  travel and medical insurance cover for medical treatments and accidents, and repatriation by air ambulance. Medical care in the Republic of Congo is extremely limited. The cost of medical repatriation to the UK is very high and is likely to be necessary for all but basic medical treatments. Be aware that some insurance policies exclude The Republic of Congo. Ensure that you take out a policy which does cover the country. In addition, check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas, see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - UK Diplomatic Representation
There is no resident British diplomatic mission in the Republic of Congo. The British Honorary Consul in Brazzaville, Mr Dominique Picard (tel: +242 06647323 or 055513 251; fax: +242 838 543), can offer only limited assistance. The British Ambassador in Kinshasa, DRC also covers the Republic of Congo. His ability to help British nationals in the Republic of Congo is limited. If you visit or are resident in the Republic of Congo you should register with the British Embassy in Kinshasa. You can do so in person or by LOCATE. The Republic of Congo is represented in the UK by HE Monsieur Henri Marie Joseph Lopes, resident in Paris, France. For further information please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in Paris.