Although I have never been to Congo-Brazzaville I would like to present it to the forumers. Congo-Brazzaville is definitely socially, politically and economically the better of the "two Congos" (even though it is not a "showpiece" country in the central african sub-region considering the crazy late 90´s of Congo-Brazzaville´s history). It is easily mixed up with Congo-Kinshasa/Zaire (fomerly Belgian Congo). Congo-Brazzaville was a former French colony and it belongs to the CFA Franc zone which is not the case for Congo-Kinshasa.

http://www.1uptravel.com/flags/images/cf-lgflag.gif

Map of Congo

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia00/congorepublic_sm00.jpg

http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/media/maps/congo.gif

BASIC FACTS

Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Population: 3,702,314 Million

Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, around 8000-10 000 French, several thousands of Lebanese; Chinese and other non-African people

Languages:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 8% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa at that time . The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. The Republic of Congo may be eligible for an IMF-World Bank heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative in early 2006, provided it meets the strict fiscal and monetary targets set out for it under a new three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) with the IMF.

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 57%
services: 36.9% (2005 est.)

Exports - partners:
China 39.1%, US 29.1%, Taiwan 11.8%, South Korea 7.2% (2005)

Imports - partners:
France 34.6%, China 12.6%, US 9%, Italy 8.3%, Belgium 5.7%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005)

This is the capital Brazzaville which has around 700 000 to 800 000 inhabitants

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza4b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza7b.jpg

French cultural centre

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza13b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza14b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza16b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza17b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza19b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza20b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza21b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza22b.jpg

http://icibrazza.africa-web.org/images/IciBrazza41b.jpg

poor quarters of Brazzaville, also inhabited by refugees from Congo-Kinshasa


http://static.flickr.com/75/209870928_08547aef9c_o.jpg

this old historic building must certainly have seen better days....

http://static.flickr.com/108/252154770_c18ac00fab.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/28/94637866_a50248e9a0.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/24/56974688_bd5f3c1909_o.gif

http://static.flickr.com/95/214813868_8bbc4834ff.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/69/202748504_28c0c81ba6.jpg?v=0

oil company building. it was built in 1989 but still looks quite impressive

when it was under constuction....

http://www.groupe-vinci.com/Appli/vnc/lvrvnc.nsf/(toutdoc)/E280DDB77C78E1D0C1256F5B0053DC0A/$File/CHAP12_img_91.jpg

it glistens beautifully in the sun when the sky is clear...

http://thibaut.ochin.free.fr/VIE/images/brazzaville/brazza.jpg


http://static.flickr.com/72/202748503_b4777105bf_o.jpg

rush hour Brazzaville style

http://static.flickr.com/87/231744752_df0aa015cc.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/72/199553200_343994f4cd_o.jpg

Le Meridien hotel

http://static.flickr.com/25/56974685_6c803f0f2f_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/85/207914563_a846b72552_o.jpg


...TO BE CONTINUED:)

cleaning the streets.....

http://static.flickr.com/89/231719881_bd5bc19e5d.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/83/207910592_fb88b9894b.jpg?v=0

abandoned buildings....

http://static.flickr.com/87/207902047_bde6268202.jpg?v=0

http://idata.over-blog.com/0/35/90/28/mmebongodebutdetravux.jpg



Brazzaville mausoleum under construction

http://static.flickr.com/71/201672189_63fdb5dc21.jpg?v=0

entry to a school, the architecture is really funny

http://perso.orange.fr/monafrique/congo/photos/Paysages/Brazzaville/Monuments/monument07.JPG

supermarket in front

http://perso.orange.fr/monafrique/congo/photos/Paysages/Brazzaville/Monuments/monument14.JPG

statue of General de Gaulle

http://perso.orange.fr/monafrique/congo/photos/Paysages/Brazzaville/Monuments/monument16.JPG

open air markets

http://perso.orange.fr/monafrique/congo/photos/Paysages/Brazzaville/Marches/marche03.JPG

http://perso.orange.fr/monafrique/congo/photos/Paysages/Brazzaville/Monuments/monument09.JPG

street scene

http://idata.over-blog.com/0/35/90/28/sassou1.jpg

http://www.afriquechos.ch/IMG/jpg/Ville_de_Brazzaville_1.jpg

http://www.uqp.de/stamps/kongo_brazzaville36.jpg

http://www.congo-pmea.net/images/accueil.jpg

http://www.tractafric.fr/static_pages/img/static/SHO%20CONGO%20Brazza.jpg

http://www.recamp5.org/photos/polmil1.jpg

a church

http://www.museum.com.ua/project/club/otkritki/afrika/22.jpg

looks like an interesting place with alot of potential.

Very green city.

I got some more Brazzaville pics to add

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/366870892_a31973d63a_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/366870885_8db7a9a373_o.jpg

rubbish dumped at the roadside

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/350177687_c35cd8612b_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/259776286_efd68cc033_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/243748028_965eeea579_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/207914561_14f9605516_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/350177697_9f74b0e663_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/289298049_516f72009c_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/302572663_d593a0f5fa_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/302575888_343218b119_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/289286955_8944d62804_o.jpg

picture of the mauseleum of Sarvogan de Brazza (explorer and founder of the city Brazzaville) which has been recently completed

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/289286953_14cd4fa6a8_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/427542519_f79e856040_b.jpg

while u/c

http://static.flickr.com/76/193284774_9e942255c7_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/73/189277084_a0fa3a933e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/259776289_cf083de3ff_o.jpg

this buildings is attached to the Mausoleum

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/243748029_f881c331f1_o.jpg


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/217630152_0b9047b27d_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/217630147_c2eb263adb_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/85/207914563_a846b72552_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/207910590_93aed9530a_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/207902052_baf9769270_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/199553200_343994f4cd_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/207902049_44f01beb10_o.jpg

Some Congolese people in Brazzaville

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/354702784_1ce4be835e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/354693916_2175b30ba7_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/350177693_55d5b3681f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/231719885_31c97b13c4_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/4982719_5899338a16_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/83/244637840_9f6cc7273e_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/90/244451635_6c3608d33e_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/244451632_1de6c1cfc1_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/346482540_5d24086615_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/299441299_efc4881086_b.jpg

Here is one old Brazzaville photos probably 60´s or 70´s

http://p.vtourist.com/1260974-Hotels_and_Accommodations-Brazzaville.jpg



http://www.kontynenty.tpi.pl/Brazz888.jpg

Photos of Pointe Noire

This is Congo-Brazzaville´s second largest city (where the new airport got built on another thread)


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/301933051_c05c41c65d_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/322382700_26b15e4ac4_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/322382691_7c8d557a92_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/322382699_dbca9b3c1a_o.jpg

some untarred (side) roads in Pointe Noire

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/322382692_0828956516_o.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/o4/50/423350/1/56041645.webCO060119.jpg

posh people in Pointe Noire:lol:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/383993654_1dc0b67955_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/393205902_ac3a024537.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/393205895_b690217c6b.jpg?v=0

old but beautiful central station of Pointe Noire

http://k41.pbase.com/u10/patrice82/upload/42839396.web1CO050116.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/u10/patrice82/upload/42839398.web1CO050117.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/u10/patrice82/upload/42839403.web1CO050179.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/u18/patrice82/upload/43098797.webCO050205.jpg

open market area

http://k43.pbase.com/u18/patrice82/upload/43098795.webCO050203.jpg

http://k53.pbase.com/o4/50/423350/1/56041644.webCO060118.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/50/423350/1/56041659.webCO060148.jpg

way to a Lebanese snack bar

http://k53.pbase.com/o4/50/423350/1/56041660.webCO060149.jpg

http://k53.pbase.com/o4/50/423350/1/56041654.webCO060141.jpg

http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20070204/260537_1MGVV8EZXW5RWLOS3G72Y1XG6K6RMF_p1000055_H155620_L.jpg

beach in Pointe Noire

http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20070204/260537_1MGVV8EZXW5RWLOS3G72Y1XG6K6RMF_p1000119_H155731_L.jpg

http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20070204/260537_1MGVV8EZXW5RWLOS3G72Y1XG6K6RMF_p1000139_H155842_L.jpg

http://www.twigahotel.com/surf/image/dsc_7278.jpg

fresh from the sea

http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20070204/260537_1MGVV8EZXW5RWLOS3G72Y1XG6K6RMF_p1000255_H160907_L.jpg

some art work

http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20070204/260537_1MGVV8EZXW5RWLOS3G72Y1XG6K6RMF_p1000258_H161009_L.jpg

a hotel in Pointe Noire

http://www.twigahotel.com/restaurant/images/rest.gif

a newly built beach eco-lodge in Pointe Noire (it is said on their webside)

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P8.jpg

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P9.jpg

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P16.jpg

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P4.jpg

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P3.jpg

http://www.malondalodge.com/images/P14.jpg

Unfortunately, much of Africa is very underrated in other parts of the world :ohno: I have a friend who comes from Congo Kin and she's always telling me that it is possible to see Congo Brazza from across the river. Point Noire looks reasonably developed to me and it's not even the capital! I'd love to stay at one of those lodges from the eco-tourist resort shown in these pictures. By the way I'd like to introduce myself here. I'm Coccolichio and I'm very interested in Africa and it's cultures a lot of my best friends are African and the things they've told me about this continent fascinate me.

Best regards :)

great photos, cute girls too

I am very happy to see these pictures! The place actually does look to be somewhat decent overall, and that can be suprisin given the troubles suffered by its neighbor that have probably affected the Republic somewhat.

I al ready that according to the Human Development Index, the Republic of the Congo has risen up to medium development status!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

A good job to that country!

Unfortunately, much of Africa is very underrated in other parts of the world I have a friend who comes from Congo Kin and she's always telling me that it is possible to see Congo Brazza from across the river. Point Noire looks reasonably developed to me and it's not even the capital! I'd love to stay at one of those lodges from the eco-tourist resort shown in these pictures. By the way I'd like to introduce myself here. I'm Coccolichio and I'm very interested in Africa and it's cultures a lot of my best friends are African and the things they've told me about this continent fascinate me.

Best regards

Great to have you here, you are welcome!:)

I am very happy to see these pictures! The place actually does look to be somewhat decent overall, and that can be suprisin given the troubles suffered by its neighbor that have probably affected the Republic somewhat.

Dantexavier, Congo-Brazzaville is certainly not Gabon but it also looks generally decent to me, too.
Unfortunately, all the achievements of the 80´s have been washed away by the years of civil war in Congo-Brazzaville that followed in the late 90´s which also cost many human lives, was very destructive to its social and physical infrastructure and led to the abrupt exodus of around 20 000 Europeans, many of whom were born there and had their own business in Congo-Brazzaville. The country hasn´t even yet found back to the status it had in the 80´s from what I have read and know....and corruption is rampant...but as more and more Chinese flood into Congo (the current president is very keen on making business with them) there seems to be renewed hope for a longer lasting economic rivival. Let´s not forget Congo-Brazzaville is a rich country and Sub-sahara´s Africa fourth largest oil producer (after Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea).

Café/Patisserie in Congo-Brazzaville

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/448335914_8afe863bdf_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/448335936_740a28e192_b.jpg

Dantexavier, Congo-Brazzaville is certainly not Gabon but it also looks generally decent to me, too.
Unfortunately, all the achievements of the 80´s have been washed away by the years of civil war in Congo-Brazzaville that followed in the late 90´s which also cost many human lives, was very destructive to its social and physical infrastructure and led to the abrupt exodus of around 20 000 Europeans, many of whom were born there and had their own business in Congo-Brazzaville. The country hasn´t even yet found back to the status it had in the 80´s from what I have read and know....and corruption is rampant...but as more and more Chinese flood into Congo (the current president is very keen on making business with them) there seems to be renewed hope for a longer lasting economic rivival. Let´s not forget Congo-Brazzaville is a rich country and Sub-sahara´s Africa fourth largest oil producer (after Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea).

I hear that there is a lot of potential for more oil production in the future, and while corruption is still really bad, things still seem to be looking up a bit for the place.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/2047611832_caeba428a0_o.jpg

Where does this thread come from all of a sudden?

It was created in October last year (!!!) and when I searched for it, i couldn´t find it anymore, so there is another one with more up-to-date pictures in the meatime.

Could the mod please delete this thread here...because two Brazzaville threads is really one too much.

I'm Congolese and despite the fact i live my whole life in France, i had the chance to pass holidays summer several times.

Brazzaville is a now a pathetic capital! . A big potential wasted by corupted politics and civil wars between Sassou n'guesso and Pascal lissouba in the end of 90's

This country has agrculture and petrol potential!
The green you see is true!! Congo owns Tropical forest!! It was a sweet place to live in the 80's !!

No hospital , no good university although their Gabon neighbor has a dictator like Bongo too , but he builds his country (i don't like him at all).

Congo should has been another Gabon! But stupidity and corruption with the aid of French companies like Elf total gave all the tools to keep alive tribalistic tensions and wars (like in Angola)!!

It is sad because fench people who lived in Congo apreciated very very the sweetness of this country!

It's true that you can see Brazzaville when you are in kinshas (Republic democratic) and You can see Kinshasa when you're in Brazzaville.

An old project to link the two capital by a long bridge still to be this same old fantasm!!

A lot of writers are congolese. The died Sony Tansi labou for example who wrote nice books.

A population of 2-3 million people who failed to build " a little Switzerland"...

It is sad!All this potential wasted :ohno:

Concerning pointe noire it is the Petrol capital for the congo. All companies Exxon,ElfTotalfina are there.

Pointe noire alongside atlantic ocean has great beaches!!!!
Underrated potential, it's sure!!

Foreigners love it because they can surf for example.

Brazzaville la belle has lost his reputation (Kinshasa too)

I hope these two capital will emerge again like the majority of African capital!!


StormShadow-->PS:The big tower you show is the " Nabemba tower" It is an office tower.

My father had an office when he worked for the government. It was in 1992 and i visit it . I was 17 at this time. Now i'm 32!!
he view and landscape is very spectacular from this tower!!!!

Congo should have been another Gabon! But stupidity and corruption with the aid of French companies like Elf total gave all the tools to keep alive tribalistic tensions and wars (like in Angola)!!

please, inform yourself better about Angola, the country is no longer at war..it is rebuilding quickly.... and please stop blaming the company Elf for the any country´s failure, Total also pumps oil in major oil producing countries just like in Venezuela, Nigeria, Angola, Ecuador, Oman and Qataris are very keen to work with French expertise in the filed of gas exploration (Total).

What I noticed (nothing agsinst you) is that people in (some) francophone Africa often behave like children instead of like grown-ups, they blame "every little fly that drops dead" to some external forces that is there to ruin their country (take the Ivory Coast: it is no secret that the country flourished due to the active presence of France in the past especially the period from 1960-1993, the massive support of foreign cheap labour from surrounding countries and the firm but benign guidance of autocratic rule by a man whom I greatly respect, personally not for his wrongs but for his rights)... people in English-speaking Africa are much more self-critical and look into their own mirror, someone just have to visit an forum in Ghana or Nigeria and compare it to the often childish and unreflected argumenst raised by some people in (some) francophone African countries. Nothing against you, it is just a general observation.

PEACE , brother!:)

Matthias-> you seem to be inteligent and i don't want a polemic brother but here in France Every person who is intersted in Africa in general and land like Congo in perticular KNOWS which is the influence of such companies in the civil war of the 90's . I'm congolese and i know better than you what happened in this country. it's not paranoia.

Even a great french channel here in France made a Tv serie about one of the most GREAT SCANDAL of a national company!!! Trust me.

Even the 3 of Elf team management were in jail for this!! Judge Eva Joly led invastigations about this "affair".Omar bongo was furious because his name was implicated in this case!! Askgabonese people! :(

I 'm not here to polemic man but i know BETTER than you what happened in the country where i was born. Please respect my allegations.

To finish. i suggest to people to visit this FANTASTIC country.Land, Forest Sea!! Generous nature!! :)

I am aware of what happened and I even saw the report on TV myself, but there are even more sides to the "truth"! There are no simple solution to any problem! thinsg are always intransparent and complex to the outsider.

Total like any big oil company is an unscrupulous conglomerate and it wants to make CASH ,the more the better. it is not in Africa nor anywhere else to give handouts and if Total is able to topple governments in Africa (something which I know they were involved in Congo-Brazzaville in the 90s) it is not just Total´s fault but the faults of lack of "reliable structure´and morale from both sides".

Total doesn´t go to Qatar and topple governments or to Oman. They work well in those countries where oil and gas resseves are much much larger than that of Congo-Brazzaville

Same case for Shell in Nigeria, Shell wins prices for responsible mamagement in Oman 8you can google for it or look at their website or check respective Omani English speaking internet sites), the very same Shell company that went into so much trouble in Nigeria and is made responsible for the mess in Southern Nigeria.

It is an open secret that a state Chinese oil company is making weapon deals in and African countrywhich I don´t want to name here and rumours are even there that they are arming conflicting parties.

Do you know why they are able to do it? Because of lack of law and very weak institutions and morale of people that sell their own country for a "rice bowl" literally speaking.

So Africa needs strong and functioning instituions (like in the Gulf States) and stop being so incredibly naive and greedy by selling their own brothers and sisters all the time!

This really frustrates me a lot.

So having disburdened my mind, let´s return to the topic of the thread, please:) which is showing photos and not arguing about nerve-wreaking politics, something which we always tend to lapse into in this forum.

I suggest the name of this country be changed from Congo to something or else, no one will really wanna go in there...It is not very different from Gabon in m opionon except it looks like a dirty "Glass" (main commercial center in Gabao)

MULEMA, Can you shut your mouth concerning Gabon, please!

Not that you trash forums full of old and slum pictures, you go on ranting and ranting like a madman, we ALL know by now that you dislike Gabon (among other countries). You needn´t prove it to us over and over again.

What´s wrong, did Gabon refuse you entry before you came to the US or maybe you are just inwardly jealous of it!

MIND, your cuurent Gabon bashing is a stark contrast to what you said when you came here as Mulema from Amazonia (the English-speaking part of Cameroon that holds 30% of the world´s oil which shows shows how fact-based you really are in your judgements)

Anyway, this is is about Brazzaville photos and NOTHING else, please let´s stick to the rules!

Sometimes I wish that Chinese or Singapore government could take over Africa, you would be among the first who ends up being killed or thrown into jail to perish there. This is the only language that some people seem to understand.

Thanks

^^^^^^^^
YAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my god why do those congolese people always put a crem on there body do be like a mulat our white peeps like this lady

to horivel for words men

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/393205902_ac3a024537.jpg?v=0

my god why do those congolese people always put a crem on there body do be like a mulat our white peeps like this lady

to horivel for words men

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/393205902_ac3a024537.jpg?v=0

What is the matter with you bashing congolese people.

Do you have a problem with congolese people?. no one is talking crap about Angolans.

that is alot of make up though, this is though more of a problem in west africa than it is in Congo Brazz. The woman is naturally light skinned just probably obessed with the francophony looks, the same can be said with angola with their latin outlook on beauty.

that is alot of make up though, this is though more of a problem in west africa than it is in Congo Brazz. The woman is naturally light skinned just probably obessed with the francophony looks, the same can be said with angola with their latin outlook on beauty.

And how do you explain this?

http://www.logwave.com/n/images/upload/blog/W0J6RV0A2KLRGSI320080324-11.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0b0w0m3cGTgco/340x.jpg

http://www.freshnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/miss-universe-pageant.jpg

http://www.cloverweb.co.uk/images/Sunbathing.jpg

you are just so funny, how do you explain that white people want to look brown at all costs? They are probably obessed with African looks, in your logic??

My friend´s mother she goes to the sun-tan studio EVERY DAY for 20 min, for many years now, although the doctor has been telling her it is unhealthy , she cannot stop...believe it or not she ethnically 100% white but has almost the same deep cocoa-brown colour due to her excessive artificial sun exposure. People always want what they don´t have: look at all the Indians bleaching their skins lilly white!:ohno:

Moreover, can we close this thread mod. There is another Congo-Brazza thread which has more recent pics than this older thread!