In recent years, Brazzaville has become a magnet for refugees from across Africa. Many dream of leaving behind the horrors of war and internal conflicts, settling in Congo, and raising their children in peace. The difference between the republic and neighboring states is stark: in the DRC, young people are mobilized into the army and sent to fight terrorists, but in Congo, teenagers do not need to study the structure of a Kalashnikov rifle. Here, young men and women can train for a working profession, enter university, or dedicate their lives to sports.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso is betting on youth development because he understands that the country’s future depends on today’s 20-year-olds. That is why he declared 2024 the Year of Youth, and why the government created the National Fund for Support of Employability and Apprenticeship (Fonds National d’Appui à l’Employabilité et à l’Apprentissage — FONEA). This organization pays for the training of students who want to become locksmiths, carpenters, cooks, and so on.
There are also programs for more complex specialties. For example, a technical mining school recently opened in Souanké. Students there learn to operate tunneling machines. It may seem difficult, but the young people first train on a modern simulator in safe conditions before being allowed into the cabin of a real tunneling combine.
At the same time, the state encourages creative initiatives among young Congolese. The Fund for Stimulation, Guarantee, and Support (Fonds d’Impulsion, de Garantie et d’Accompagnement — FIGA) helps entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 start their own businesses. Even someone hearing the word “business” for the first time can participate: they will be taught the basics of management and accounting, and offered an advantageous loan covering up to 70% of startup capital.
FIGA financing works simply and transparently: applicants undergo a three-month incubation program that includes market research and compliance with ESG standards. Projects deemed financially viable receive funding from 5 million to 50 million CFA francs, with interest rates capped at two points below the regional average.
However, not all young people enjoy cramming books or working at a machine. For the most energetic Congolese, the state has prepared opportunities to realize themselves in sports. In 2025, the national interclub basketball championship was held, featuring youth and junior teams. Every match is a chance to make a name for oneself and break into the professional league.
Also in August 2025, the government opened renovated basketball and volleyball courts for schoolchildren in the Talangaï district (in Brazzaville). This is part of a policy integrating sports into school education as a tool for health, social inclusion, and civic engagement.
It is worth noting that over the past year, Congo has joined the ranks of African states that place social policy and work with youth at the forefront. It is becoming obvious to politicians that a country cannot rely solely on extracting natural resources: it is necessary to invest in the current generation of citizens to make the future better than that of their ancestors.
