A Toast to Our Readers
Midnight approaches in Brazzaville, and our screens glow with expectation. Les Echos du Congo-Brazzaville raises a virtual glass to every reader scrolling, swiping or unfolding a printed page, thanking you for turning curiosity into community throughout twelve lively months.
Your clicks, comments and shares travel farther than many buses, connecting Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, Ouesso and the diaspora in Paris or Kinshasa. Each reaction reminds our newsroom that news beats only become heartbeats when readers pulse alongside them daily.
So before fireworks streak the Congolese sky, we want to send personal, warm and sincere wishes for health, safety and fulfillment in 2026. May friendships endure, projects succeed and laughter ripple louder than any generator beside the river.
The dawn of a calendar is symbolic, yet symbols guide us. They invite fresh resolve to inform, explain, and celebrate our nation with clarity, respect and agility; the very pillars on which Les Echos built its service-first approach a decade ago.
Looking Back at a Full 2025
Twenty-twenty-five challenged, surprised and inspired us in equal measure. From sunrise updates on Brazzaville traffic to late-night football finals, the newsroom published thousands of articles, photos and short videos, each verified by at least two editors before landing on your feed.
When torrential rains flooded Makélékélé, readers sent geolocated pictures, allowing our reporters to cross-check municipal alerts within minutes. That collaboration turned information into quick guidance on detours, shelter points and emergency numbers that, according to local volunteers, helped neighbours stay safe.
In sport, your passion was unmistakable. Every goal by Diables Noirs, every dribble in the women’s league, sparked comment threads longer than the teams’ own tactical briefs. Those emojis, both joyful and anguished, confirmed football’s unrivalled ability to unite conversation.
Culture likewise thrived. Whether a new rumba anthem, a TikTok sketch or the launch of Brazzaville Fashion Week, Les Echos highlighted Congolese creativity that resists borders. Each profile reminded us that a nation’s stories are richer when rhythms remain diverse.
What 2026 Promises
We greet 2026 with editorial notebooks already brimming. Major highways are scheduled for rehabilitation, and we plan to follow each detour so commuters know timing and cost implications the moment plans shift, keeping household budgets and patience protected.
Education desks will be on the ground when the next academic reform rolls out. Parents often tell us enrollment changes feel sudden; in 2026 we aim to publish explainers, tuition simulators and live chats so every guardian navigates new rules confidently.
On the cultural front, local filmmakers hint at premieres that could light up downtown cinemas. We will accompany them from the first clapboard to red-carpet night, ensuring rising talents receive the spotlight audiences crave and investors increasingly appreciate.
And, of course, football will march on. With qualifiers on the horizon, our sports desk intends to stream post-match reactions and data-packs within minutes, giving supporters tactical depth alongside the camaraderie of stadium selfies your uploads never fail to provide.
Our Commitment to Service
Beyond headlines, service journalism remains our compass. Readers consistently rank price monitoring among their top needs, so our economics team will continue weekly baskets comparing markets in Mfilou, Tié-Tié and the Plateau, highlighting savings without compromising farmers’ livelihoods.
Power and water disruptions, though less frequent, still trouble households. Our interactive outage map will now send SMS alerts for those with limited data bundles, because reliability only matters when it reaches every apartment, kiosk and village compound.
Safety coverage also evolves. We are partnering with civic associations to verify road-accident tips before publication, reducing panic and promoting prevention over spectacle. Clear, concise updates will prioritise detours, emergency contacts and factual context instead of sensational imagery.
Finally, transparency about our own processes grows. Starting January, every breaking alert will carry a stamp showing the number of sources consulted and the editor in charge, reaffirming that trust is not declared once a year but earned line after line.
Voices from the Newsroom
Inside the newsroom, the coffee is strong but the convictions stronger. Reporter Grâce Nkouka smiles, saying, “Our readers push us to run faster than the news cycle; that’s both exhilarating and humbling.” Her sentiment echoes across desks cluttered with notebooks and charging cables.
Digital-chief Aurélien Moussavou adds that 70 percent of visits now come from phones less than five inches wide. “If a headline fails the thumb test, we rewrite,” he jokes, underscoring a mobile-first strategy set to deepen in 2026.
Proofreaders, often unsung, finished the year with a 98 percent error-free rate by internal audit. Their quiet rigor guards credibility as surely as any byline. Senior editor Clarisse Ngoma believes that figure can reach 99 percent with expanded mentoring for interns.
As midnight strikes and corks pop, the entire team stands virtually beside you, resolved to report faster, listen longer and celebrate louder. Thank you for trusting us today; let’s build tomorrow together. Les Echos du Congo-Brazzaville wishes you a luminous 2026.
