Human habitation of what is now the Congo came relatively late due to the dense forest of the region. Early societies were based on farming and hunting, but the rise of the influential Kongo, Loango and Bateke kingdoms led to the establishment of important trade networks and contact with Europeans. Congo was eventually colonised in the late 19th century by the French, whose brutal rule was driven by the extraction of its natural resources and left it with an ethnically divided society at independence in 1960. From 1969 to 1992, the country was a single-party authoritarian state. In the 1992 multiparty elections, Denis Sassou-Nguesso (who had been in power since 1979) was defeated by Pascal Lissouba. A subsequent civil war, which saw Angolan intervention, restored Nguesso to the presidency in 1997, an office he has retained to the present. Politics continue to be driven by the regime’s desire to maintain power and control the substantial oil rents of the country. Opposition and civil society activists are subjected to arbitrary detention and their right to freedom of assembly is restricted. A 2015 constitutional replacement was interpreted to have reset presidential term limits, allowing the president to seek three more consecutive terms in office.      

For the general population, issues of development and corruption loom large. Despite some improvements in access to education and health, significant challenges remain in these areas, which is reflected in the country’s low standing in the UN Human Development Index. In addition, 46.5 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, and domestic food production is unable to meet the Central African nation’s need. At the same time, Congo ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world, and graft is a major concern for its citizens. 

Issues of discrimination are also salient in Congo. The legacy of the civil war and modern-day patronage politics have resulted in significant tensions between members of the Mbochi and Lari ethnic groups. This ethnic cleavage is central to Congolese politics, as the Mbochi of the North are favored by the government’s patronage networks. At the same time, the Lari of the South face heavier governmental repression. Indigenous groups, including semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples, also face significant discrimination and disproportionate levels of poverty, as well as environmental challenges related to the country’s extractive industries. Congo is a lower performer on Gender Equality and, despite legal protections, women are underrepresented in politics and in the labour force. The LGBTQIA+ community, on the other hand, lack rights protections and face widespread discrimination in access to basic services.     

Looking ahead, the prospects for democratization are remote. However, Credible Elections, Free Political Parties and Civil Liberties should be monitored for change as the 2026 elections draw nearer and in light of the recent abduction of a presidential candidate.   

Last updated: July 2025