Brazzaville Ouenzé Peace Appeal Ahead of March Vote
The administrator-mayor of Ouenzé, Brazzaville’s 5th arrondissement, Grace Steph Anthonetty Ivossot, said on 20 January that the presidential election scheduled for March should unfold in a climate of peace, with the active participation of all segments of society, including foreign residents established in the district.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives of foreign communities living and working within her administrative area, Ivossot framed public tranquility as both a civic obligation and a shared interest. She insisted that serenity, peace and calm are not merely slogans for campaign seasons, but values to be cultivated in the hearts of all inhabitants of the arrondissement.
Respect for Republic’s Laws as a Common Language
Ivossot underlined that ensuring orderly electoral conditions is, in her view, a matter of responsibility. “It is our duty and responsibility that the presidential election in March takes place under good conditions,” she said, adding that the essential prerequisites are “tranquility, peace and quiet,” values that should be nurtured across Ouenzé.
In the same address, she reminded foreign residents that the laws and regulations of the Republic apply to everyone living on Congolese soil, including communities welcomed into the country. Her message was presented as an invitation to cohesion rather than exclusion: a call for all residents to align their conduct with the rules that govern public life.
Foreign Traders Echo Support, Raise Market Security Issues
Foreign nationals engaged in commercial activities in Ouenzé indicated that they had taken on board the mayor’s appeal. At the same time, they used the exchange to highlight concrete difficulties encountered in daily life, notably concerns about insecurity in the market environment.
They also mentioned the challenges linked to obtaining administrative documents, an issue that can affect business operations and family life alike. Another topic raised during the meeting concerned children who were born and have grown up in Congo, a sensitive and practical matter for many resident families seeking clarity and stability in their social and administrative situations.
Urban Cleanliness in Ouenzé: Sanitation and Orderly Installations
Beyond the electoral horizon, Ivossot expanded the discussion to the broader management of the arrondissement, urging all traders and foreign residents to comply with sanitation rules. She also called for collective action against the disorderly installation of tents and temporary structures, which can contribute to congestion and undermine public cleanliness.
By linking civic calm, respect for regulations and the upkeep of public spaces, the administrator-mayor presented social cohesion as a day-to-day practice. In her view, keeping Ouenzé clean and orderly is part of sustaining the peaceful environment that residents—Congolese and foreign alike—expect for their livelihoods and community life.
Congo Social Cohesion Through Shared Responsibilities
Ivossot’s remarks positioned foreign communities as stakeholders in the country’s stability. “Since you are linked to our country and are part of this big family with the national community, it is clear that it is in everyone’s interest that we strive to speak the same language to help ensure that peace remains for a long time in our country, Congo,” she said.
The meeting thus combined an explicit call for restraint ahead of the March presidential election with a practical dialogue on security, administrative procedures and municipal order. The overall message was that peace is preserved not only through political goodwill, but also through everyday compliance with laws, constructive engagement and shared respect for the public realm.
