Sub Saharan Africa
Congo
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Still current at: 08 January 2009
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Updated: 06 November 2008
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This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Health section (revised HIV/AIDS statistics). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
See entire profile
Travel Summary
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We advise against all but essential travel to the Pool region, as there is sporadic rebel activity there. This includes using the Brazzaville-Pointe Noire road and railway. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
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We advise against all but essential travel along the Ubangi river in the Likouala region, where the river forms the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
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There is no British Embassy in the Republic of Congo. If resident in or visiting the Republic of Congo, you should register with the British Embassy in Kinshasa. See the General (UK Diplomatic Representation) section of this advice for more details.
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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.
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You should avoid travelling at night throughout the whole country.
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We are not aware of any British nationals who required consular assistance in the Republic of Congo in 2007.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
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. For further information see Terrorism Abroad.
The incidence of street crime, armed robbery or vehicle hi-jacking is low in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, although there are frequent police checkpoints. Since January 2007, vehicle hijacking in Pointe Noire has increased. Take sensible security precautions i.e. do not walk in the streets after dark, or carry large amounts of money or valuables.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Congo (Rep of) Country Profile
If in Brazzaville, you should keep yourself updated locally on the 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.
Local Travel
Road travel in the Pool region requires a permit from the Congolese army. You are therefore advised to travel between these cities by air (but see Air Safety section).
We advise against all but essential travel along the Ubangi River in the Likouala region, where the river forms the border with the DRC as this area is subject to periodic instability. Crime (sometimes armed) is committed against boats using the river in this area.
The 2009 Presidential elections have the potential to raise tensions in the country, although there has been no evidence of this during recent Parliamentary and Legislative elections.
Boat Travel
The river crossing/border with Kinshasa may close without warning. We advise travellers to check the situation before committing to one route or another.
Road Travel
For more information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm.
For more general information see Airline Security.
Local laws and customs
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas are required to visit the Republic of Congo. Advice on visas can be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in London.
Passport Validity
Your Passport must have a minimum of six months validity from the date of arrival in the Republic of Congo.
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.
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. For further information please contact Embassy of the Republic of Congo in London.
Health
Water-borne diseases, malaria and cholera are common in Congo.
Medical facilities in the country are extremely limited, particularly in rural areas.Since December 2006, outbreaks of cholera have been reported in Pointe Noire, Kouilou and Brazzaville. The majority of cases have been reported from Pointe Noire. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Congo you should seek immediate medical attention.
Outbreaks of the human form of the Ebola fever have occurred in recent years. The WHO declared the most recent outbreak of the disease over in June 2005, but warned that another outbreak could occur soon.
You should not eat 'bush meat'.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 73,000 adults aged 15 or over in Congo were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 3.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should 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.
General
You should take out full travel and medical insurance cover for medical treatments and accidents, and repatriation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See Travel Insurance for more details.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.
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. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
UK Diplomatic Representation
Travel advice for this country
See entire profile
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contacts
Congo (Democratic Republic), Kinshasa, British Embassy
Address:
British Embassy
Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
BFPO 5319
Telephone:
(243) 81 715 0761
(243) 81 715 0724 For genuine emergencies only
Fax:
(243) 813 46 4291
Email: ambrit@ic.cd
Office hours:
GMT:
Mon-Thur: 0630-1330
Fri: 0630-1300
Local Time:
Mon-Thur: 0730-1430
Fri: 0730-1400
Out of hours, Embassy answer machine gives a contact number
