Author: Congo Times

On the 65th anniversary of Congo’s independence, Dr. Françoise Joly was elevated to the rank of Commander in the Order of Congolese Merit, a distinction that honors service, duty, and commitment to the Nation. Brazzaville, August 15, 2025 — On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of our country’s independence, I had the immense honor of receiving the insignia of Commander in the Order of Congolese Merit. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic, Head of State, for this high distinction which greatly honors and moves me. I also extend my sincere…

Verbal attacks on women in public office are escalating in Congo-Brazzaville, fuelled by gendered disinformation and credulous amplification. The central question is no longer rhetorical: does the normalisation of online vilification foreshadow real-world harm, and do unchecked falsehoods enable a dangerous permission structure for violence? The Republic of the Congo is witnessing a familiar but corrosive pattern: women in positions of authority are subjected to a blend of sexist insinuation and conspiratorial allegation that displaces evidence-based critique. The recent media flare-up around Dr Françoise Joly—Minister and Personal Representative of the President for Strategy and International Negotiations—illustrates the mechanics. On 7…

Congo-Brazzaville – July 07, 2025. In a powerful personal statement issued on July 7, 2025, from Brazzaville, Dr. Françoise Joly responds to recent sexist and xenophobic attacks with a resolute reaffirmation of her mission, values, and the rising role of African women in leadership. Over the past few days, I have been the target of personal attacks laced with sexism and xenophobia. These assaults do not question my competence or my results — they target who I am: a young, African, multicultural woman serving in a strategic role at the highest levels of the State.  Such petty discourse is not…