Congo-Brazzaville Bans Travel For Ministers Until Year’s End

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State-financed travel by ministers and officials in Congo-Brazzaville has been suspended until the end of the year, the government said on Wednesday.

“Missions abroad of members of the government, senior officials and other state agents, financed by the general state budget, are suspended until the end of 2024,” a circular signed by Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso said.

“An exception is made for missions involving the president of the republic,” a copy of the circular seen by AFP said.

It encourages officials’ “participation in video conference”, without giving further explanation on the travel ban.

The “measure aims to reduce the costs of the state, which is experiencing major cash flow tensions”, a government source told AFP.

“Entire sections of the Congolese economy have been suffering for some time and are in the red,” the source added.

Congo-Brazzaville is a small, oil-producing country with more than five million residents.

Around half the population lives below the poverty line, according to World Bank estimates.

For the last month rubbish has been collecting in the streets of the capital Brazzaville, with refuse collectors on strike due to lack of wages.

The city has also suffered power cuts for the last month, as electricity pylons have been damaged.

It is not clear who is responsible for the damage, but the public prosecutor has opened an investigation.

Congo-Brazzaville has revised its budget downwards to the equivalent of four billion euros in 2024, from six billion in 2020.

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