REPUBLIC OF CONGO · FLOODS
Key Facts
- —What is happening Congo-Brazzaville’s Council of Ministers, chaired by President Denis Sassou N’Guesso, was told on Wednesday, 14 October, that floods in Likouala department, notably Epena sub-prefecture, have affected or displaced 16,739 people, and it told the Defence Ministry to mobilise transport helicopters.
- —Why it matters The rainy season has only just begun and the government names health risks, while the 2024 floods left more than 336,000 people across Congo-Brazzaville in need of urgent aid.
- —The numbers 16,739 people are affected or displaced across 2,738 households, and 11 of the 22 villages in Epena sub-prefecture are flooded, exactly half; the report mentions no deaths.
- —Who is who The Council of Ministers is Congo’s cabinet under President Sassou N’Guesso, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action supplied the figures, and the Defence Ministry must mobilise the helicopters.
- —What to watch The government must report regularly to the President, and a task force of ministries under the Prime Minister will coordinate the response, but no date, aircraft number or funding figure has been given.
- —What it means for you American travellers should note that the US advisory for the country is Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and mentions flooding, while the floods themselves change no US rule or entry requirement.
Heavy rain has flooded 11 of the 22 villages in Epena sub-prefecture, in Likouala department. The government has told the Defence Ministry to mobilise transport helicopters and set up a task force under the Prime Minister.
Congo-Brazzaville floods have affected or displaced 16,739 people in Likouala department, notably Epena sub-prefecture, the government said on Wednesday, 14 October. President Denis Sassou N’Guesso chaired the meeting at the Palais du Peuple in Brazzaville, which ran from 10:00 to 13:00.
On the President’s instruction, the Defence Ministry must mobilise transport helicopters for teams from the humanitarian and health ministries. The Prime Minister, who heads the government, will lead the response through a task force of ministries.
What the Council Was Told About Likouala
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action supplied the figures. It counts 16,739 people as affected or displaced, about the population of a small US town, across 2,738 households.
Epena is a sub-prefecture, a local administrative district, and 11 of its 22 villages are flooded, exactly half. They include Mokengui, Bokatola, Makengo, Matoko and Mboukou.
The Council blamed heavy rain over recent days and cited the rainy season’s start as a reason to act. It also named health risks, though the report does not say which diseases worry officials.
The Council expressed sorrow to the Congolese affected and promised full national solidarity. The report mentions no deaths, injuries or missing people.
The Congo-Brazzaville Floods Response Plan
The Defence Ministry has been told to mobilise transport helicopters for teams from the humanitarian and health ministries. The report does not say how many aircraft will fly or when they will leave.
The response sits under the Prime Minister, who heads the government. A task force of the ministries concerned will coordinate it, and the government must report regularly to the President.
The national news agency ACI published the full Council report on Thursday, 15 October. Les Dépêches de Brazzaville and Journal de Brazza carried the same figures, which all come from the one government report.
Earlier Floods Still Shape the Picture
Congo-Brazzaville suffered severe floods in early 2024, when nine of its 12 departments were hit. The World Health Organization said on 12 January 2024 that more than 336,000 people needed urgent humanitarian aid.
In November 2024 a report carried by allAfrica described Likouala as hit again by heavy flooding. The 16,739 people now counted equal about 5% of the 336,000 in 2024, but the two figures cover different areas.
The Same Meeting Also Approved a Visa Bill
The Council approved a bill that writes into law the visa waiver for African nationals due on 1 January 2027. African visitors would still need an electronic travel authorisation, and the bill now goes to Parliament.
It also adopted decrees on civil service hours, forest permits and two health bodies. The report announces no change to entry rules for travellers from outside Africa.
What It Means for US Readers
The US State Department rates the Republic of the Congo Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and names crime as the risk. Its advisory page also says extreme rainfall can cause flooding.
The advisory does not name Likouala, and the Council’s report names no foreign donor and asks for no outside help. Americans with plans in the north should confirm road and river conditions locally before travelling.
The floods change no US rule or entry requirement. The report links them to no oil field, mine or forest concession.
What Is Not Known
The report does not say whether the 16,739 figure covers all of Likouala or only Epena sub-prefecture. It gives no count of destroyed homes, damaged farmland or lost crops.
No flood level, river reading or rainfall measurement has been published, and there is no funding figure for the response. The report does not say how many helicopters will fly or why air transport is needed.
The figures come from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, and no independent count has been found. Press accounts spell some village names differently, so the village count follows the Council’s own list.
What Comes Next
The government must report regularly to the President, but the report gives no date for the next update. The Council names the start of the rainy season as a reason to act at once.
Nothing in the report says the water has peaked or begun to fall. Any change in the numbers will have to come from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action or the task force.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people do the Congo-Brazzaville floods affect?
The government says 16,739 people are affected or displaced, across 2,738 households. Eleven of the 22 villages in Epena sub-prefecture are flooded.
Where is Likouala?
Likouala is a department in northern Congo-Brazzaville, and Epena is a sub-prefecture inside it. The Republic of the Congo is a separate country from DR Congo.
What is the government doing?
It has ordered the Defence Ministry to mobilise transport helicopters for humanitarian and health teams. A task force under the Prime Minister will coordinate the response.
Does the report mention any deaths?
No, the Council’s report mentions no deaths, injuries or missing people. It expresses sorrow to those affected and promises full national solidarity.
Is it safe to travel to Congo-Brazzaville now?
The US advisory is Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and says extreme rainfall can cause flooding. It does not name Likouala, so travellers in the north should check local conditions.
Are these the worst floods the country has seen?
Not on current figures, since the early 2024 floods hit nine of 12 departments. The World Health Organization said over 336,000 people needed urgent help, against 16,739 counted so far in 2026.
Sources: Council of Ministers report of 14 October 2026 (ACI); Les Dépêches de Brazzaville (ADIAC), 15 October 2026; Journal de Brazza, 15 October 2026; WHO Africa, 12 January 2024; allAfrica, November 2024; US State Department travel advisory, Republic of the Congo (all accessed 16 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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