World Factbook
Republic of the Congo
République du Congo
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: divided diagonally from the lower-left side by a wide yellow band; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower triangle is red meaning: green stands for agriculture and forests, and yellow for the people's friendship and nobility; the meaning of the red color is not noted but has been associated with the struggle for independence
history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Brazzaville
etymology
named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
4 15 S, 15 17 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
history
several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
amendment process
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
Country name
former
French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, 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 in the area
local long form
République du Congo
local short form
Congo
conventional long form
Republic of the Congo
conventional short form
Congo (Brazzaville)
Independence
15 August 1960 (from France)
Legal system
mixed system of French civil law and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the President of the Republic
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
subordinate courts
Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
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
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
election results
2021: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, other 3.6% 2016: 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%
head of government
Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)
most recent election date
21 March 2021
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms)
expected date of next election
21 March 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua
Political parties
Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP Action Movement for Renewal or MAR Citizen's Rally or RC Congolese Labour Party or PCT Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI Congo on the Move or LCEM Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS Club 2002-Party for the Unity and the Republic or Club 2002 Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS Republican and Liberal Party or PRL Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR Union of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI Union for the Republic or UR
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament (Parlement)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
history
originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
lyrics/music
Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
National symbol(s)
lion, elephant
Administrative divisions
15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
151 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
8/20/2023
expected date of next election
July 2026
percentage of women in chamber
14.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
72 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022
expected date of next election
August 2029
percentage of women in chamber
31.9%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 726-1860
chancery
1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 726-5500
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025)
email address and website
info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville
telephone
[242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700
mailing address
2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025)
email address and website
BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/
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), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction