Most visitors to the Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, travel on business to Brazzaville, the capital on the Congo River, or to Pointe-Noire, the oil city on the Atlantic coast; a smaller number fly north to see lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. The country is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so roaming with a European SIM is charged at your operator's own rates.
Key facts for the Republic of the Congo
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Airtel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: no central number; police 06 665 4804
- Embassies: in Brazzaville
Areas to avoid
The UK advises against all travel to within 50 km of the border with the Central African Republic in the Likouala region. In the Pool region, there has been no fighting since a ceasefire in 2017, but clashes could flare up again with little warning, and vehicle crime is highest anywhere in Pool and in Mouyondzi district.
Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire
Coverage is good in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Pickpocketing and other opportunistic crime are reported in both cities, and criminals may target foreigners, so keep valuables out of sight, lock your car doors and stick to the main routes to reduce the risk of carjacking. Demonstrations happen occasionally and have turned violent in the past, so stay away from them. The river crossing between Brazzaville and Kinshasa can close without warning; the ferry stops in the late afternoon, does not run on Sundays and may be cancelled in bad weather.
Checkpoints and travel
Vehicle checkpoints are frequent and sometimes poorly marked: stay in your vehicle and show your documents through a closed window. Roads in remote areas can be poor, so travel in daylight and in convoy, and note that the train between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire is often slow and unreliable. The police may ask for ID, so always carry a colour copy of your passport with your visa and entry stamp.
Paying
The currency is the Central African CFA franc, and cash is king: the larger hotels in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire take cards but prefer cash, and cash machines are scarce, so bring enough euros or US dollars to change.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before you fly connects on arrival at Maya-Maya airport in Brazzaville or in Pointe-Noire, and your home SIM stays on for texts and bank codes. An Africa plan also covers Gabon and Cameroon.
Congolese SIM cards from Airtel or MTN are sold in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in the Republic of the Congo
- There is no central emergency number. You can report a crime to the police on 06 665 4804, but phone lines can be unreliable and few police officers speak English, so note the details of a local clinic before you need one.
- Embassies are in Brazzaville. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- EU citizens whose country is not represented in the Republic of the Congo can ask any other EU embassy for help, which it must give on the same terms as to its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in French, the official language, ready to show on screen.
Republic of the Congo travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about the Republic of the Congo
Does my EU plan work in the Republic of the Congo?
No. The country is outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator charges its own roaming rates.
Can I cross the river to Kinshasa?
The ferry stops in the late afternoon and does not run on Sundays, and the crossing can close without warning.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in the Republic of the Congo?
Airtel, with 4G where available.
Is there an emergency number?
Not a central one. Report crimes to the police on 06 665 4804 and keep the number of a local clinic.
The short version
Install the eSIM before departure, carry a colour copy of your passport, keep away from the border with the Central African Republic and stay alert in the Pool region, travel by day, and save the police number 06 665 4804.
See plans for the Republic of the Congo →
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