Editing Brazzaville

{{short description|Capital and the largest city of the Republic of the Congo}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Brazzaville
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| native_name        = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | border                 = infobox
  | total_width            = 290
  | image_style            = border:1;
  | perrow                 = 1/2
  | image1                 = Avenue Amilcar Cabral Nord.jpg
  | caption1               = Brazzaville Skyline in Amilcar Cabral Avenue 
  | image2                 = WHO AFRO, Regional Office.jpg
  | caption2               = World Health Organization Office
  | image3                 = Déplacement sur le fleuve Congo1.jpg
  | caption3               = [[Congo River]]
  | image4                 = Memorial de Brazza.jpg
  | caption4               = Brazza Mausoleum 
  | image5                 = Université Marien Ngouabi VOA Afrique.jpg
  | caption5               = [[Marien Ngouabi University]]  
}}
| pushpin_map        = Republic of the Congo#Africa
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| mapsize            = 100px
| map_caption        = Map of the Republic of Congo showing Brazzaville
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Republic of the Congo]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Capital district]]
| subdivision_name1  = Brazzaville
| subdivision_type2  = [[Departments of the Republic of the Congo|Department]]
| subdivision_name2  = Brazzaville
| subdivision_type3  = [[Communes of the Republic of the Congo|Commune]]
| subdivision_name3  = Brazzaville
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1883
| founder            = [[Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Dieudonné Bantsimba
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = 2023 census
| population_total   = 2145783 <ref>{{Cite web |last=BOKOLO |first=Guilesse |date=2024-01-08 |title=RESULTATS PRELIMINAIRES |url=https://ins-congo.cg/download/resultats-preliminaires/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=INS-CONGO BRAZZAVILLE |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 9450
| area_total_km2     = 588
| coordinates        = {{coord|4|16|S|15|16|E|region:CG|display=inline,title}}
| timezone = [[West Africa Time|WAT]]
| utc_offset = +01:00
| elevation_m        = 320
| elevation_ft       = 
| population_demonym = Brazzavillian
| area_code          = 242
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec1    = 0.623<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web |title=Subnational HDI (v7.0) |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/COG/ |website=Global_Data_Lab |access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> · {{color|#fc0|medium}} · [[List of departments of the Republic of the Congo by Human Development Index|1st of 12]]
| website            = {{URL|www.brazzaville.cg}}
| name               = 
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_urban   = 2,557,100
| population_metro   = 2,724,566
| population_blank1_title = [[Official language]]
| population_blank1  = {{hlist|[[African French|French]]|[[Kituba language|Kituba]]|[[Lingala]]}}
| population_blank2_title = [[National languages]]
| population_blank2  = {{hlist|Kituba|Lingala|'''Non-national language :''' {{ill|Ciladi|fr|Lari (langue)}}}}
| image_flag         = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Brazzaville.svg
}}
'''Brazzaville''' ({{IPA|fr|bʁazavil}}) is the [[capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of the [[Republic of the Congo]]. Administratively, it is a [[Departments of the Republic of the Congo|department]] and a [[Communes of the Republic of the Congo|commune]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ins-congo.cg/download/chapitre-3-organisation-administrative/ |title=Annuaire Statistique du Congo 2018, chapitre 3 : organisation administrative |date=2021-03-23 |format=PDF |page=13 |publisher={{lang|fr|Institut National de la Statistique}} |website=ins-congo.cg |access-date=2023-08-18|language=fr }}</ref> Constituting the financial and administrative centre of the country, it is located on the north side of the [[Congo River]], opposite [[Kinshasa]], the capital city of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (DR Congo).

The population of the capital is estimated to exceed 2.1 million residents, comprising more than a third of the national populace. Some 40% are employed in non-agricultural professions. During [[World War II]], Brazzaville served as the de facto capital of [[Free France]] between 1940 and 1942.

In 2013, Brazzaville was designated a [[City of Music (UNESCO)|City of Music]] by [[UNESCO]]; since then it has also been a member of the [[Creative Cities Network]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2013/10/453392-brazzaville-zahle-krakow-and-fabriano-designated-unesco-creative-cities |title=Brazzaville, Zahlé, Kraków and Fabriano designated UNESCO Creative Cities |date=2013-10-21 |work=UN News |access-date=2018-10-03 |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021133/https://news.un.org/en/story/2013/10/453392-brazzaville-zahle-krakow-and-fabriano-designated-unesco-creative-cities |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Toponymy==

The prefix "Brazza" comes from the surname of the Italian count [[Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza]], who worked on exploration expeditions for [[France]] and is credited with founding the town.<ref name="Cybriwsky 2013">{{cite book|author=Roman Adrian Cybriwsky|title=Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=USA|date=2013|page=60}}</ref>

The place name Brazzaville unintentionally has the literal meaning of "City of the Armed Wing".<ref name="Cybriwsky 2013"/> The surname Brazza refers to the village of [[Brazzacco]], in the commune of [[Moruzzo]], [[Italy]], whose name derives from the [[latin language|latin]] ''bracchium'', meaning "armed wing".<ref>{{cite book|author=Giovanni Frau|title=Dizionario Toponomastico Friuli-Venezia Giulia|publisher=Istituto per l'Enciclopedia del Friuli-Venezia Giulia|date=1978}}</ref>

In the [[kongo language]] it has the names or variants of ''Ntamo'', ''Ntambo'', ''Kintamo'', ''Kintambo'', ''Tandala'', ''Mavula'' and in the [[teke languages]] ''M'fa'', ''Mfaa'', ''Mfa'', ''Mfoa''.<ref name="Cybriwsky 2013"/><ref>Sylvie Ayimpam, ''Vie matérielle, échanges et capitalisme sur la rive méridionale du Pool du fleuve Congo (1815-1930)'', Centre d'Étude des Mondes Africains (CEMAf), 2006, p. 4 and p. 9</ref><ref>André JACQUOT, ''Lexique Laadi (Koongo)'', L'Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer (O.R.S.T.O.M.), 1974</ref><ref>Joseph ZIDI, ''Brazzaville : Les enjeux de la géographie des migrations (1800-2010)'', Université Marien Ngouabi de Brazzaville, 2016</ref><ref>MARTIN Phyllis M., ''Loisirs et société à Brazzaville pendant l'ère coloniale'', KARTHALA Editions, 2006, p. 31</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Kindepuisbrazza.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kinshasa]] seen from Brazzaville. The two capitals are separated by the [[Congo River]].]]
[[File:brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.jpg|thumb|View of Brazzaville from space]]
Brazzaville covers a large area to the north of the [[Congo River]], just below the [[Pool Malebo]]. [[Mbamu]], a large island within the Pool, is part of the Republic of Congo's territory.

Brazzaville is {{cvt|506|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} inland from the Atlantic Ocean and approximately {{cvt|474|km|mi}} south of the [[equator]]. Around the city are large plains. The town is relatively flat, and situated at an altitude of {{cvt|317|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}. Downriver the Congo has numerous rapids, known as Livingston Falls, preventing navigation upriver to this point from its mouth at the Atlantic.

[[Kinshasa]], the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is located on the southern bank of the Congo, directly across from Brazzaville. To distinguish between the two African countries that have "Congo" in their names, the Republic of the Congo is sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville, as opposed to Congo-Kinshasa. Kinshasa is more than five times larger than Brazzaville in population. This is the only place in the world where two national [[capital city|capital cities]] developed on opposite banks of a river, within sight of each other.<ref name=Guardian1>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/jan/17/congo-rivalry-kinshasa-brazzaville-river-drc |title=Face-off over the Congo: the long rivalry between Kinshasa and Brazzaville |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-date=18 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718224203/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/jan/17/congo-rivalry-kinshasa-brazzaville-river-drc |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2018, the "Brazzaville Declaration" was signed to promote better management and conservation of the [[Cuvette Centrale]], a region in [[Congo Basin]] and primarily in DRC. It is the world's largest tropical [[peatland]], made up of swamp forests. Conservation of this area is important for the survival of megafauna, and also critical to the world's climate. Burning the peat would release too much carbon and raise the Earth's temperature. The declaration to save peatlands as the world's largest terrestrial organic carbon stock was signed by [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], the [[Republic of the Congo]], and [[Indonesia]], which also has peatlands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-agreement-signed-protect-worlds-largest-tropical-peatland |title=Historic agreement signed to protect the world's largest tropical peatland |website=UNEP - UN Environment Programme |date=23 March 2018 |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731101616/https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-agreement-signed-protect-worlds-largest-tropical-peatland |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Brazzaville}}
[[File:Brazzaville-Le Marché.jpg|thumb|left|Brazzaville Market in 1905]]
[[File:Gare de Brazzaville en 1941.jpg|thumb|left|Brazzaville railway station in 1941]]

Brazzaville was founded by the [[French colonial empire]] upon an existing indigenous [[Bateke]] settlement called Ncuna, during the [[Scramble for Africa]] when European nations established spheres of influence on the continent.<ref name=Scramble1>{{cite book |last=Pakenham |first=Thomas |date=1991 |title=The Scramble for Africa |publisher=Abacus |page=150}}</ref> The Italian-born explorer [[Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza]],<ref name="EB1911"/> who was granted French citizenship in 1874, officially founded the settlement on 10 September 1880; it commemorates his name.<ref name="Cybriwsky 2013"/><ref name=Scramble1/>

The local [[King]], Makoko of the Téké, signed a treaty of protection with Brazza, which subjugated his lands to the [[French colonial empire|French Empire]].<ref name=Scramble1/> From October 1880 until May 1882, a small squad of troops led by Senegalese Sergeant [[Malamine Camara]] occupied the site, in order to prevent the land from falling into Belgian hands. Their forces were active on the south side of the river, where King Leopold II ruled the Belgian Congo for a period as a private holding. The first large-scale building work of the city began four years later, as the French competed with [[Léopoldville]] (now [[Kinshasa]]) which Belgian colonists were developing on the south side of the river.<ref name=Scramble1/>

The [[Berlin Conference]] of 1884 placed French control over this area on an official footing. The city became the capital of the [[French Congo]] in 1904.<ref name=Encyc1>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Dominic |date=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History |publisher=Routledge}}</ref> It continued as capital when [[French Equatorial Africa]] was founded in 1910, as a federation of French colonial states: it included [[Gabon]], the [[Central African Republic]], and [[Chad]] until 1960.<ref name=Encyc1/> From 1910 to 1915 the major municipal buildings were constructed, including a courthouse and headquarters for the Banque de l'AEF and Institut Pasteur.<ref name="YoulouDianzinga2006">Jean-Jacques Youlou & [[Scholastique Dianzinga]], "Une capitale dans l'histoire"; Chapter 1 in ''Ziavoula'' (2006).</ref>

In 1934, the [[Congo–Ocean Railway]] opened, linking Brazzaville with the Atlantic port of [[Pointe-Noire]] and bypassing the rapids on the Congo River. Construction of the railway resulted in the deaths of more than 17,000 Africans, and the people revolted against the French in 1928.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14121195 |title=Republic of Congo profile |date=11 April 2017 |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=7 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307054339/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14121195 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During World War II, Brazzaville and the rest of [[French Equatorial Africa]] remained beyond the control of [[Vichy France]], which served the Nazi occupation. The city served as the capital of [[Free France]] from 1940 to 1943.<ref name=YoulouDianzinga2006 /> In 1944, Brazzaville hosted a meeting of the [[French resistance]] forces and representatives of France's African colonies. The resulting [[Brazzaville Conference of 1944|Brazzaville Declaration]] represented an attempt to redefine the relationship between France and its African colonies.<ref name=Encyc1/>

Until the 1960s, the city was divided into European (the centre of the city) and [[Ethnic groups of Africa|African]] sections ([[Poto-Poto]], Bacongo, and Makélékélé). In 1980, it became a "[[Communes of the Republic of the Congo|commune]]" separated from the surrounding [[Pool Department]] and divided into nine "[[arrondissements]]" along the French model of administration.

Since the late 20th century, the city has frequently been a staging ground for wars, including internal conflicts between rebel and government forces. It has been a base of conflicts between forces of the Republic of the Congo, the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (DRC), and [[Angola]]. During the 1990s, civil wars resulted in thousands of civilian deaths here and forced hundreds of thousands of refugees to flee the city.

More recently thousands of people leaving the DRC have made their way to Brazzaville; the [[MONUSCO|local United Nations force]] and the DRC government have accused the city of deporting thousands of these refugees.<ref>"[http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/deportation-comments-anger-congo-1695433 Deportation comments anger Congo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125085135/https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/deportation-comments-anger-congo-1695433 |date=25 November 2018 }}", ''Independent Online'' (SAPA-AFP), 28 May 2014.</ref><ref>James Butty, "[https://www.voanews.com/a/drc-threatens-legal-action-over-brazzaville-deportations/1923224.html DRC Threatens Legal Action over Deportations from Congo-Brazzaville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710131336/https://www.voanews.com/a/drc-threatens-legal-action-over-brazzaville-deportations/1923224.html |date=10 July 2017 }}", ''VOA News'', 27 May 2014.</ref>

In April 2016 fighting occurred between police and local militia units, with at least 18 people killed.<ref name=Guardian2>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/04/heavy-gunfire-in-congo-brazzaville-capital-as-police-battle-militia |title=Heavy gunfire in Congo-Brazzaville capital as police battle militia |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201213433/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/04/heavy-gunfire-in-congo-brazzaville-capital-as-police-battle-militia |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations|1984|585,812|1996|856,410|2007|1,373,382|2023|2,145,783}}
As of the 2023 census, the city had a population of 2.15 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congo (Rep.): Departments, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/congo/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

The National Institute of Statistics for 2014 is 1.73 million. [[Kinshasa]], DRC, had more than 10 million inhabitants in 2014.<ref name=Kinshasa>{{cite web |url=http://www.dsrp-rdc.org/documents/Monographies_Provinciales/Monographie%20de%20la%20Province%20de%20Kinshasa.swf |title=Monographie de la Ville de Kinshasa |publisher=Unité de Pilotage du Processus d'Elaboration et de mise œuvre de la Stratégie pour la Réduction de la Pauvreté (UPPE-SRP) |format=[[SWF]] |language=fr |access-date=19 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209114927/http://www.dsrp-rdc.org/documents/Monographies_Provinciales/Monographie%20de%20la%20Province%20de%20Kinshasa.swf |archive-date=9 February 2007}}</ref>

Together with Kinshasa, the combined [[conurbation]] of Kinshasa-Brazzaville has about 12 million inhabitants. Significant political and infrastructure challenges prevent the two cities from functioning with any meaningful connection.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://citypopulation.de/Congo.html |title=Congo (Rep.): Departments, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=3 January 2019 |archive-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229065216/http://www.citypopulation.de/Congo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/world/agglomerations/ |title=Major Agglomerations of the World - Population Statistics and Maps |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140057/https://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the mid-19th century, the two cities have been rivals in trade, sports and power.<ref name=Guardian1/> There have been proposals to connect the two capitals by a [[Brazzaville–Kinshasa Bridge]]. In 2018, with relative peace re-established in the region, the [[African Development Bank]] and [[Africa50]] signed a deal with both governments to develop the project.<ref>Siphelele Dludla, [https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/international/drc-congo-sign-500m-deal-to-build-kinshasa-brazzaville-connecting-bridge-17820985 "DRC, Congo sign $500m deal to build Kinshasa-Brazzaville connecting bridge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121007/https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/international/drc-congo-sign-500m-deal-to-build-kinshasa-brazzaville-connecting-bridge-17820985 |date=19 January 2019 }}, ''IOL'', 8 November 2018</ref>

==Government==
[[File:刚果布援助大桥夜景.jpg|thumb|Brazzaville Bridge at night]]
{{see also|List of mayors of Brazzaville}}
Brazzaville, like Pointe-Noire, is a [[Communes of the Republic of the Congo|commune]] (municipality) and a [[Departments of the Republic of the Congo|department]] but not with the same area.<ref name="laws 12-14">Laws n° 12 to 14-2011 {{cite web |url=https://www.sgg.cg/JO/2011/congo-jo-2011-21.pdf |title=JO n° 21-2011 |date=2011-05-26 |format=PDF |pages=581,585-586 |publisher={{lang|fr|Secrétariat Général du Gouvernement - Journal Officiel}} |website=sgg.cg |access-date=2023-09-02|language=fr }}</ref> It is governed by a municipal council and a departmental council. The mayor is the president of the municipal council.<ref>Brazzaville.cg (site officiel de la commune de Brazzaville), "[http://www.brazzaville.cg/fr/l%E2%80%99administration-municipale L'administration municipale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721051925/http://www.brazzaville.cg/fr/l%E2%80%99administration-municipale |date=21 July 2017 }}"; accessed 16 July 2017.</ref>

The commune is divided into nine ''[[arrondissement]]s'' (boroughs), each with an official number:<ref name=arrond>{{cite web |url=http://www.brazzaville.cg/fr/les-arrondissements |access-date=12 September 2017 |title=Les arrondissements |work=Brazzaville.cg |language=fr |publisher=Commune de Brazzaville, Congo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912192649/http://www.brazzaville.cg/fr/les-arrondissements |archive-date=12 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
#[[Makélékélé]] 
#[[Bacongo (Brazzaville)|Bacongo]] 
#[[Poto-Poto]] 
#[[Moungali]] 
#[[Ouenzé]]
#[[Talangaï]]
#[[Mfilou]]
#[[Madibou]]
#[[Djiri (Brazzaville)|Djiri]]

The department includes the area of the commune and, since 2011, the new district of [[Ile Mbamou]].<ref name="laws 12-14"/>

==Economy==
[[File:Nabemba.jpg|thumb|right|220px|upright|Nabemba Tower]]
The location of Brazzaville near the pool of the Congo River enabled it to grow as an industrial, trading and port settlement. It was connected through trade by ships and boats traveling upriver to inland areas, which produced raw materials from the beginning of the colonial period.<ref name=Encyc1/> Construction of the railway connecting to [[Pointe-Noire]] increased the ability of city businessmen to get their products to the port for export. Industries present in Brazzaville include [[machining|machine shops]], [[textile]]s, [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]], and [[manufacturing]]. As a key port on the [[Congo River]], Brazzaville still takes deliveries of [[raw material]]s, such as [[natural rubber|rubber]], [[wood]], and [[agriculture|agricultural product]]s. From here they are generally sent onward to [[Pointe-Noire]] for export.

Many companies, government organizations and [[NGO]]s have regional offices in the capital city, where they can work with government officials. The [[World Health Organization]] has its regional office for Africa located in Brazzaville.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/about/regions/afro/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040714010025/http://www.who.int/about/regions/afro/en/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2004 |title=WHO &#124; Regional Office for Africa |website=WHO}}</ref> Companies headquartered in Brazzaville include [[Equatorial Congo Airlines]]{{Cn|date=September 2024}} and the mobile operator [[Warid Congo]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=79599058 |title=Company Overview of Warid Congo S.A. |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=16 July 2017 }}</ref>

==Culture==
[[Roger Erell]], a highly regarded architect, designed a house in the city for [[Charles de Gaulle]] when he was the leader of [[Free France]] here. Other buildings include the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Mausoleum, the [[Nabemba Tower]], and the Congressional Palace (Brazzaville).

The [[Marien Ngouabi]] Mausoleum, [[Brazzaville Zoo]], and the Poto-Poto School of Painting are also destinations for visitors and city residents.

==Places of worship==
[[File:Cathédrale de Brazzaville avant 1926.jpg|thumb|right|The Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1926]]
Many Congolese converted to Catholicism during the French colonial period. [[Christianity|Christian]] churches are most prevalent in the city, where the Roman Catholic Church has an [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brazzaville|archdiocese]]. Since then, churches have been established by new immigrants and by local adoption of evangelical Protestantism. Examples include the [[Basilica of Sainte-Anne-du-Congo in Brazzaville]], Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Brazzaville and Gabon ([[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa]]), [[Evangelical Church of Congo]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), and [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 773</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Université Marien-Ngouabi - Faculté de droit.jpg|thumb|left|[[Marien Ngouabi University]]'s Law School]]
The [[Marien Ngouabi University]] is a public [[university]] in Brazzaville, named after a former leader.<ref name=University>{{cite web |url=http://www.umng.cg/?q=en/node/79 |title=Quick Facts |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904070852/https://umng.cg/?q=en%2Fnode%2F79 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The university was founded in December 1971 after independence. Today it has approximately 26,000 students.<ref name=University/>

International schools:
*[[Lycée Français Saint-Exupéry de Brazzaville]] (French)
*American International School of Brazzaville

==Climate==
Brazzaville features a [[tropical wet and dry climate]]. Its wet season, which runs from October–May, is longer than its dry season, which covers the remaining months. Brazzaville's driest months, July and August, on average have no significant precipitation. Since Brazzaville is south of the equator, its dry season begins at around its "winter" solstice, which is the month of June. The city has relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year.

{{Weather box
| location = Brazzaville (1991-2020)
| single line = yes
| metric first = yes
|Jan record high C=37.5
|Feb record high C=36.3
|Mar record high C=37.5
|Apr record high C=36.8
|May record high C=37.3
|Jun record high C=34.3
|Jul record high C=33.8
|Aug record high C=40.2
|Sep record high C=39.5
|Oct record high C=38.9
|Nov record high C=35.8
|Dec record high C=40.2
|year record high C=40.2
| Jan high C = 30.9
| Feb high C = 31.7
| Mar high C = 32.5
| Apr high C = 32.6
| May high C = 31.4
| Jun high C = 28.9
| Jul high C = 28.1
| Aug high C = 29.1
| Sep high C = 30.9
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 31.2
| Dec high C = 30.8
| year high C = 30.8
| Jan mean C = 26.1
| Feb mean C = 26.6
| Mar mean C = 26.8
| Apr mean C = 26.7
| May mean C = 26.3
| Jun mean C = 24.1
| Jul mean C = 23.4
| Aug mean C = 24.1
| Sep mean C = 25.9
| Oct mean C = 26.2
| Nov mean C = 25.7
| Dec mean C = 25.9
| year mean C = 25.6
| Jan low C = 22.6
| Feb low C = 22.3
| Mar low C = 22.9
| Apr low C = 22.9
| May low C = 22.6
| Jun low C = 20.6
| Jul low C = 19.5
| Aug low C = 20.5
| Sep low C = 21.7
| Oct low C = 22.3
| Nov low C = 22.3
| Dec low C = 22.4
| year low C = 21.9
|Jan record low C=17.0
|Feb record low C=14.5
|Mar record low C=17.7
|Apr record low C=18.6
|May record low C=17.0
|Jun record low C=12.7
|Jul record low C=10.5
|Aug record low C=10.3
|Sep record low C=15.2
|Oct record low C=13.7
|Nov record low C=18.2
|Dec record low C=17.7
|year record low C=10.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 159.5
| Feb precipitation mm = 136.6
| Mar precipitation mm = 188.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 168.8
| May precipitation mm = 132.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 9.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 3.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 10.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 42.6
| Oct precipitation mm = 163.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 263.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 216.4
| year precipitation mm = 1494.9
|unit precipitation days=1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days=10
|Feb precipitation days=8
|Mar precipitation days=11
|Apr precipitation days=12
|May precipitation days=8
|Jun precipitation days=1
|Jul precipitation days=0
|Aug precipitation days=0
|Sep precipitation days=4
|Oct precipitation days=9
|Nov precipitation days=14
|Dec precipitation days=12
|year precipitation days=89
|Jan humidity=81
|Feb humidity=80
|Mar humidity=79
|Apr humidity=81
|May humidity=81
|Jun humidity=79
|Jul humidity=77
|Aug humidity=73
|Sep humidity=71
|Oct humidity=76
|Nov humidity=81
|Dec humidity=82
|year humidity=78
|Jan sun=171
|Feb sun=167
|Mar sun=192
|Apr sun=181
|May sun=177
|Jun sun=141
|Jul sun=127
|Aug sun=133
|Sep sun=145
|Oct sun=152
|Nov sun=157
|Dec sun=154
|year sun=
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://climateatlas.org
| title = Brazzaville Climate Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = ClimateAtlas
| accessdate = May 14, 2024
}}</ref>
}}


==Transport==
[[File:Aeroport Maya-Maya.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Maya-Maya Airport]]]]
[[File:Brazzarail (28522034145).jpg|left|thumb|A railroad in Brazzaville]]

The city is home to [[Maya-Maya Airport]], which lies in the centre of the city and which has regular flights to [[Pointe-Noire]] as well as international destinations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. A flight operates twice weekly between Brazzaville and Kinshasa, but the flight time is only five minutes.<ref name=Guardian1/>

The [[Congo-Ocean Railway]] has a station in the city and in 2014 was operating the [[La Gazelle train|''La Gazelle'']] train service every other day to [[Pointe-Noire]] and intermediate destinations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/congo/la-gazelle-train-brazzaville-to-pointe-noire |title=La Gazelle train Brazzaville to Pointe Noire |first=Lonely |last=Planet |access-date=4 May 2014 |archive-date=4 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504190134/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/congo/la-gazelle-train-brazzaville-to-pointe-noire |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:WPWPCG 38.jpg|thumb|Road transport in Brazzaville]]
The city is an important [[river port]], with [[ferry|ferries]] sailing to [[Kinshasa]] and to [[Bangui]] via [[Impfondo]].<ref name=Guardian1/> Ferries and fast private boats serve as the primary means of connection between Kinshasa and Brazzaville.<ref name=Guardian1/> The [[Livingstone Falls]] lie on the outskirts of the city, where the [[Djoué River]] meets the Congo, rendering river transport to the coast impossible, qualifying the railway as a [[portage railway]].

Although there is no organised public transport system, privately owned buses are available in the capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/congo/brazzaville/transport/getting-around |title=Transport in Brazzaville - Lonely Planet Travel Information |access-date=2014-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125191943/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/congo/brazzaville/transport/getting-around |archive-date=25 January 2010}}</ref>

Taxis are available on every street and are easily recognized, being painted with a green body and white top, and the fare for a short trip is CF700. About twenty percent of the vehicles in Brazzaville are taxis. There are also collective taxis that drive certain routes and charge CF150.

[[Brazzaville–Kinshasa Bridge|A road-rail bridge]] is proposed to connect Brazzaville with Kinshasa. The rail gauge on both sides is the same at 1067mm.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.au-pida.org/view-project/2014/ |title=Road-Rail Bridge |date=17 June 2017 |access-date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018085725/https://www.au-pida.org/view-project/2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
:''See [[:Category:People from Brazzaville]]''
[[File:Ali Bongo Ondimba.png|thumb|140px|[[Ali Bongo Ondimba]], 2016]]
[[File:Antoinette Sassou-Nguesso.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Antoinette Sassou Nguesso]], 2011]]
* [[Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza]] (1852–1905), eponymous founder.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Brazza, Pierre Paul François Camille Savorgnan de | volume= 4 |last= Goldie  |first= George Dashwood Taubman |author-link= George Taubman Goldie | pages = 464&ndash;465 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Prosper Philippe Augouard]], (1852–1921) French Catholic priest, missionary and explorer, settled Brazzaville in 1887.
*[[Ambroise Noumazalaye]] (1933–2007) [[List of prime ministers of the Republic of the Congo| Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville]], 1966 to 1968
*[[Jean Serge Essous]] (1935-2009) a Congolese saxophonist & clarinetist
*[[Emmanuel Dongala]] (born 1941) a Congolese chemist and novelist.
*[[Patience Dabany]] (born 1941) singer, musician and [[First Ladies and Gentlemen of Gabon|First Lady of Gabon]], 1967 to 1987.
*[[Antoinette Sassou Nguesso]] (born 1945) [[First Lady of the Republic of the Congo]] since 1997
*[[Aurlus Mabélé]] (1953–2020) a Congolese singer and composer.
*[[Charles Richard Mondjo]] (born 1954) Chief of Staff of the [[Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo|Congo Armed Forces]], 2002 to 2012.
*[[Dominique Ntsiété]] (1940-2012), senator
*[[Ali Bongo Ondimba]] (born 1959), Gabonese politician, 3rd [[President of Gabon]] since 2009.
*[[Alain Akouala Atipault]] (born 1959) politician and government Minister.
*[[Frédéric Bintsamou]] (born 1964) a Protestant clergyman and leader of the "semi-religious" rebel group [[Ninja (militia)|The Ninjas]]
*[[Bill Kouélany]] (born 1965) a Congolese artist, writer and set designer.
*[[Alain Mabanckou]] (born 1966) novelist, journalist, poet and academic
*[[Cyril Kongo]] (born 1969), a French painter and graffiti artist, lived in Brazzaville in the 80s.
*[[Dominique Tchimbakala]] (born 1977) journalist and TV presenter, news anchor for [[TV5Monde]].
*[[Gaitana (singer)|Gaitana]]  (born 1979), [[List of famous Ukrainian people|Ukrainian]] singer who lived in Brazzaville for five years.
*[[Scholastique Dianzinga]], professor and specialist in women's history
*[[Sardoine Mia]] (born 1998), artist
=== Sport ===
* [[André Merlin]] (1911–1960) a French tennis player.
* [[François M'Pelé]] (born 1947) a former footballer with 521 club caps and 9 for [[Congo national football team|Congo]]
* [[Rolf-Christel Guié-Mien]] (born 1977) former footballer with 338 club caps and 26 for [[Congo national football team|Congo]]
*[[Oscar Ewolo]] (born 1978) former footballer with 374 club caps and 38 for [[Congo national football team|Congo]]
*[[Lorène Bazolo]] (born 1983) track and field athlete, Congolese flag bearer at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Ladislas Douniama]] (born 1986) former footballer with over 250 club caps and 28 for [[Congo national football team|Congo]]
* [[Pamela Mouele-Mboussi]] (born 1988) long and triple jumper, national flag carrier at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Serge Ibaka]] (born 1989), professional basketball player
*[[Férébory Doré]] (born 1989) footballer with over 200 club caps and 37 for [[Congo national football team|Congo]]

==Twin towns and sister cities==
*{{flagicon|GER}} ''[[Dresden]]'', Germany<ref name=jumelage>{{cite web |url=http://www.brazzaville.cg/fr/coopération |title=Coopération |language=fr |work=Brazzaville.cg |publisher=Commune de Brazzaville, Congo |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905140926/http://brazzaville.cg/fr/coop%C3%A9ration |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PRC}} ''[[Weihai]]'', China
*{{flagicon|COD}} ''[[Kinshasa]]'', Democratic Republic of the Congo


==See also==
{{Portal|Africa|Cities}}


==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

==Bibliography==
*Ziavoula, Robert Edmond, ed. (2006). ''Brazzaville, une ville à reconstruire''. Paris: Karthala. {{ISBN|2-84586-825-1}}.

==Notes==
{{See also|Timeline of Brazzaville#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Brazzaville}}
{{notelist}}
*Chavannes, Charles de. (1929) "Le Sergent Sénégalais Malamine." ''Annales de l'Académie des Sciences Coloniales'', vol. 3:159–187.
*Petringa, Maria. (2006) ''Brazza, A Life for Africa'' (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-4259-1198-0}}
*Tiepolo, M. (1996) "City Profile: Brazzaville" in ''Cities'' v. 13, pp.&nbsp;117–124
*Brisset-Guibert, Hervé (2007) ''Brazzaville petit guide historique'', in the site www.presidence.cg ("palais presidentiel")
*Cultural reference: In the final scene of the 1942 film, Casablanca, it is to Brazzaville that Captain Renault (Claude Rains) suggests he and Rick (Humphrey Bogart) might escape to together for "vacation" and, as Rick counters, "the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
*{{cite book |last1=Whitehouse |first1=Bruce |title=Migrants and Strangers in an African City: Exile, Dignity, Belonging |date=2012 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |isbn=9780253000811}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Brazzaville}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
*[https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/1969/1/fuc_book_sheets_tuprints.pdf Fusion Cities, consolidation of movement], urban analysis seminar with vectorised maps of the agglomeration. TU Darmstadt, 2009
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061108125758/http://www.harvardmag.com/jf97/vita.html Maria Petringa's  biographical article] on Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, describing events leading to the founding of Brazzaville, 1997

{{Departments of the Republic of the Congo}}

{{List of African capitals}}
{{All-Africa Games Host Cities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brazzaville| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Communities on the Congo River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1880]]
[[Category:Departments of the Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo border crossings]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in French Congo]]