A toast to a renewed alliance for 2026
Glasses clinked under the chandeliers of the U.S. residence in Brazzaville on 3 December as Chargé d’Affaires Amanda Jacobsen used the traditional year-end reception to cast her gaze three years ahead. Addressing senior Congolese officials, business leaders and representatives of civil society, the diplomat spoke of an alliance that, in her words, “will help create the environment necessary for investment, education and growth.” Her remarks, delivered in both English and French, set the tone for a far-reaching programme designed to consolidate Congo-Brazzaville’s role as what she called “a pillar of stability in Central Africa.”
The roadmap she unveiled rests on three interlocking pillars: partnership, regional peace and what she termed “inclusive, sustainable prosperity.” Far from being mere diplomatic formulas, these concepts form the scaffolding of a strategy Washington believes can translate political good will into bankable projects. Jacobsen’s emphasis on 2026 aligns the initiative with the United States’ medium-term budgeting cycle, signalling an intention to mobilise agencies across the U.S. government as well as the private sector.
Security first: anchoring investment in stability
Jacobsen’s first two pillars—partnership and peace—converge on a single premise: without security, investors stay away. Pointing to recent coordination between Brazzaville and Washington in evacuating more than 250 employees and family members from the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, she underscored how regional turbulence can spill across borders and disrupt commerce. The diplomat credited Congolese authorities for what she described as “swift, pragmatic cooperation” during that sensitive operation.
Going forward, the United States intends to deepen collaboration with the Congolese defence and interior ministries on issues ranging from border management to the fight against trafficking in persons. Officials from both sides met last week under the Joint Migration Security Working Group to refine protocols on information-sharing and training. While the specifics of future programmes remain under deliberation, the convergence of security and economic objectives is clear: protecting communities, Jacobsen argued, “creates the bedrock without which trade, education and growth cannot flourish.”
Opening the door wider for American enterprise
The third pillar—”prosperity that is inclusive, sustainable and opportunity-driven”—occupies pride of place in Jacobsen’s vision. The envoy announced that her mission will study avenues to “increase the presence of American companies in Congo” across energy, transport, digital technology, tourism, education and workforce development. Although no new projects were formally unveiled, the diplomat’s language hinted at sectoral diversification beyond the hydrocarbons that have long dominated U.S.–Congo economic ties.
Washington sees an opening to align American expertise with Brazzaville’s push for economic diversification. In Jacobsen’s formulation, expanding trade and investment is not an abstract objective but “a means to create jobs” on both sides of the Atlantic. Congolese entrepreneurs attending the reception welcomed the message, noting that access to U.S. technological know-how could accelerate local value-chains. For their part, American executives cited by the embassy privately lauded the government’s recent steps to streamline customs procedures, though they cautioned that continued progress on transparency will remain decisive.
Migration dialogue seeks pragmatic solutions
Jacobsen did not shy away from a subject that has occasionally strained bilateral ties: the suspension of certain U.S. visa categories under a policy dating back to the previous U.S. administration. She saluted Brazzaville’s July 2025 public exhortation urging its citizens to respect American immigration laws, describing the gesture as “an important confidence-building measure.”
Drawing on Department of Homeland Security figures, she recalled that in 2023 nearly one in three Congolese visitors overstayed their visas. That metric, she said, justifies continued joint work on document verification, traveller awareness and border security. The recently convened Joint Migration Security Working Group illustrates this commitment, placing communication and training at the centre of efforts to combat irregular flows while facilitating legitimate travel. For Jacobsen, migration cooperation does not stand apart from the broader partnership; rather, it reinforces the legal certainty investors and students alike require.
An agenda calibrated for mutual benefit
By coupling security assistance with a promise of expanded market access, Washington aims to demonstrate that its relationship with Congo-Brazzaville is both principled and pragmatic. The Congolese authorities, for their part, have indicated their willingness to engage across the entire spectrum—from peacekeeping coordination to vocational education—so long as initiatives respect national priorities.
As 2026 approaches, both capitals will be judged on their capacity to translate rhetorical alignment into measurable outcomes. For now, Jacobsen’s roadmap has provided a diplomatic north star. The next phase will involve the granular work of mobilising U.S. agencies, securing Congressional notifications where necessary, and working with the Congolese government to identify projects that can be fast-tracked. Should the plan succeed, it may well serve as a template for Washington’s engagement with other Central African partners—proof that security cooperation and inclusive prosperity can reinforce, rather than offset, one another.