Author: Mbemba Mukendi

Official data highlight sustained remittance flow The Agency for the Regulation of Fund Transfers, an entity under the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Public Portfolio, reports that from October to December 2024 the Congolese diaspora remitted an estimated 20.3 billion FCFA, the equivalent of 36 million USD (ARTF). Coming at the close of a year marked by mixed global economic signals, the figure confirms that private transfers from abroad remain a steady lifeline for many households in Congo-Brazzaville. The regulator stresses that it compiled the data from licensed money-transfer operators and banking institutions, thereby excluding informal channels that, by definition,…

Strategic Leap for Pointe-Noire Hub A deep ocean swell and a cobalt horizon framed the entrance of the Maersk Halifax when the 368-metre vessel eased alongside the quays of Congo Terminal after a swift transit from Cape Town. Beyond the symbolism of a first call by a ship exceeding 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, the event provides tangible evidence that Pointe-Noire is consolidating its status as a pivotal relay between the Atlantic and the fast-growing markets of Central Africa. Port authorities report that average turnaround times have been divided by two over the past decade, a trend confirmed by regional shipping…

A Landmark 20th Edition and Its Diplomatic Echoes When seventy-five amateur and professional athletes answer the starter’s pistol on 14 August, the Brazzaville Semi-Marathon International will cross an important threshold. Two decades of uninterrupted organisation have turned what began as a local celebration into a modest, yet influential, node of Central African sports diplomacy. Embassies accredited to the Republic of Congo have quietly expanded their guest lists for the customary finish-line reception, aware that a well-timed handshake in running gear can resonate more warmly than a formal démarche. Organised by the multi-sports association Lion d’Or under the stewardship of businessman…