Crime in Congo Republic

Common reported offences include petty theft, pickpocketing, bag-snatching, mugging, burglary, vehicle theft, armed robbery, assault, murder and carjacking. Sexual assault and rape, forced labour, child trafficking and sex trafficking also occur as relevant safety risks. Digital risks include fraud, account takeover, identity misuse, online harassment and sextortion. No reliable current national crime statistics establish the prevalence of these offences. Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have the highest practical relevance, especially after dark and in isolated neighbourhoods or on secluded beaches. Vehicle crime is a particular concern around Mouyondzi and outside urban areas. The Ubangi and Democratic Republic of the Congo border areas carry increased cross-border risks. In Likouala, travel at least 50 kilometres from the Central African Republic border is advised because criminal gangs and armed militias present a serious risk. Coastal piracy and armed robbery can also affect maritime activity. Some remote areas carry residual risks linked to armed groups or unrest, but these do not replace the crime-specific assessment. After dark, avoid walking alone, isolated areas and large visible amounts of cash or valuables. Keep vehicle doors and windows locked, use secure parking and stay on main routes. Make longer road journeys in daylight and consider a four-wheel-drive vehicle or convoy where local conditions justify it. During an attack, do not resist. For ride-share journeys, use a trusted application and check the driver and vehicle registration before entering. The police emergency number is reported as 117 by the Government of Canada as of 1 September 2026. The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also lists a local police number, 06 665 4804, but reports that the Republic of the Congo has no central emergency service and that telephone connections can be unreliable. Police services are mainly urban, while the gendarmerie has a stronger role outside urban areas. Rural police and emergency medical services may be limited or unavailable. No verified nationwide standard fee, response time or victim-compensation practice has been established. Police and gendarmerie may receive a sexual-assault report, and reporting before departure can help investigators begin work. Medical treatment can be sought without first filing a police report. Preserve clothing, messages and other evidence, and avoid washing if possible when doing so does not endanger health. General victim support is not established as a nationwide service. A state centre in Brazzaville provides basic needs, education, psychosocial counselling and temporary accommodation for trafficking victims, while state, non-governmental and international partners may provide medical, psychosocial and legal assistance. Access is more limited outside Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Trafficking risks affect child labourers, unaccompanied children, migrants, refugees, Indigenous populations and women and girls in commercial sex. Reported patterns include domestic service, market vending, fishing, agriculture and urban sex trafficking, with movement from rural areas towards Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Ouesso, Dolisie and Nkayi. Formal identification and referral rules exist, but implementation is inconsistent. The 2024 trafficking reporting recorded five victims identified by the state and ten identified by NGOs, five state referrals, and no reported investigations or convictions. In 2025, public discussion used the term “traque des Kulunas” for action against juvenile delinquency and urban insecurity; there is no reliable current national youth-crime rate, and older child-labour and child-protection figures must not be treated as current crime prevalence. For cybercrime, the Autorité nationale de cybersécurité, abbreviated ANSSI, is the national cybersecurity authority under Law 18-2019. Its operational activity was reported from 2025, and its published contact details include contact@anssi.cg and +242 06 131 83 83, Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. A dedicated public complaint workflow, standard fees and processing times have not been verified. Women travelling alone may face harassment or verbal abuse, and 2SLGBTQI+ people have been reported to face harassment from members of the public or authorities. At checkpoints, remain inside the vehicle, keep the window closed and show requested documents. Local authorities may request identification at any time. Formal safeguards on detention and access to legal assistance have been reported, including a 72-hour period plus one extension before a magistrate is present, or up to eight days plus one extension in other circumstances, but human-rights reporting has also described practical risks when formal guarantees are not followed.