Which languages and communication channels are commonly used in daily life in the Republic of the Congo?

French is the official language, while Lingala and Kituba are used as national lingua francas. In daily life, mobile calls, SMS and WhatsApp are particularly common.

How can a government authority be contacted about digital or communication-related matters in the Republic of the Congo?

Depending on the procedure, telephone, email, website or in-person contact may be available. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy can be reached by telephone at +242 226 13 40 99.

How can someone complain about a telecommunications provider in the Republic of the Congo?

The provider should be contacted first, and the case or transaction number should be kept. If the problem remains unresolved, the ARPCE accepts complaints free of charge at 5050 or by email at consumers@arpce.cg.

Which communication options are available when access to digital services is limited in the Republic of the Congo?

Depending on the situation, voice calls, SMS, WhatsApp or physical mail may serve as alternative channels. There is currently no nationally documented standard for relay services, TTY, captioning, sign language or fully accessible websites.

Communication in the Republic of the Congo

Q: What requirements apply to obtaining a SIM card in the Republic of the Congo?

Depending on the case, providers require a valid identity card, passport, driving licence or school or student card, as well as an address. Minors additionally need a parent’s signature.

In daily communication in the Republic of the Congo, French as the official language and Lingala and Kituba as national lingua francas shape communication. Calls and SMS mainly use MTN Congo and Airtel Congo; WhatsApp supplements private and customer-service communication. Authorities, postal services and digital services use telephone, email, websites, in-person offices and mobile payments depending on the procedure.

Tip

In the Republic of the Congo, choose the channel according to urgency, confidentiality and traceability: for official matters, use a contact that can be documented; for sensitive matters, use a protected channel and keep secure records. Do not rely on general information about tariffs, online services or accessibility; check the specific service with the responsible provider or authority.

byMarie&Jean

The national numbering plan of the Republic of the Congo uses nine digits; short codes have three to five digits. Depending on the case, SIM registration requires a valid national identity card, passport, driving licence or school or student card, as well as an address. Minors additionally need a parent’s signature. The mobile operator (MTN Congo) offers, among other services, short code 123, SMS to 123 and WhatsApp at 067000123; the mobile operator (Airtel Congo) uses, among others, 121, 128 and 116. Mobile internet access is predominantly prepaid. In addition to MTN Congo and Airtel Congo, Congo Telecom, the fixed-internet provider (GVA/CanalBox) and the fixed-internet provider (Silicon Connect) offer fixed internet access; availability and prices depend on the location and provider. The mobile-money service (MTN MoMo) and the mobile-money service (Airtel Money) enable transfers, deposits and withdrawals, bill payments and airtime purchases through USSD, apps or agents. These services require registered SIM cards, identity verification and a personal PIN; MTN MoMo uses *105#, and Airtel Money uses *128#. The public postal operator (SOPECO) provides the universal postal service through 39 active postal facilities. The telecommunications regulator (ARPCE) additionally lists 14 licensed private postal operators; certain letters up to 100 grams in ordinary service and up to 50 grams in express service remain reserved for SOPECO, while heavier letters, books, magazines and parcels up to 30 kilograms are open to competition. Depending on the procedure, official matters can be handled by telephone, email, website or in person; the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy can be reached at +242 226 13 40 99 and contact@postetelecom.gouv.cg. Digital government programmes include, among other things, document applications, renewals, taxes through Mobile Money, civil registration, business services, education and licences, but actual online availability depends on the individual procedure. The law protects the confidentiality of communications and regulates personal data, consent, security, cross-border transfers, data protection officers and data breaches, which should if possible be reported within 72 hours. In case of problems, the relevant provider should be contacted first; the ARPCE can then be contacted through the free mobile number 5050 or consumers@arpce.cg. The ARPCE states on its website that processing takes no more than one week, while an information sheet states no more than one month. Bills, recharge and transaction numbers, dates and screenshots facilitate review. For people with disabilities, the Constitution, the disability law (Loi n°18-2025) and the ratified African disability protocol provide for equal access to information, communication, information and communication technology, and electronic and emergency services. However, there is no nationally documented standard for relay services, TTY, captioning, sign language or fully accessible websites; depending on the situation, voice calls, SMS, WhatsApp or physical mail may serve as alternative channels. The ARPCE table for 2024 gives weighted values of 18 CFA francs (F CFA) per call minute and 2.13 CFA francs per SMS including taxes, while other sections of the reports give different overall figures for subscriptions and data traffic. Individual tariffs, network coverage and delivery times should therefore be checked with the relevant provider or authority.