Republic of Congo

Citizenship in the Republic of Congo is defined by Loi 35-61 du 20 juin 1961 portant code de la nationalité congolaise which was revised in 1993 and 2011. The nationality law provides a rather complicated set of rules on acqusition of nationality at birth, but the overall impact is for a child born in Congo to acquire nationality at birth from either of its parents, or if born of a parent also born in Congo. Transmission of nationality between spouses may occur only for a foreign woman married to a Congolese man. The 2002 Constitution also refers to nationality, affirming the right of Congolese citizenship to acquire a second nationality; this amendment was provided for by the 2011 amendment to the nationality code.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child notes concerns that, although the Republic of Congo has enacted several of the Committee’s recommendations, there must be steps taken to improve the coordination and effective establishment of mechanisms aimed at improving children’s rights.

Citizenship in the Republic of Congo can be transmitted on equal terms by Congolese mothers and fathers, as noted by the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.