Tension on Brazzaville Campus
After a brief calm, the main public university in Congo-Brazzaville is bracing for a fresh shutdown. The inter-union at Marien Ngouabi University has announced an unlimited strike starting Monday 17 November 2025, citing unpaid wages and unresolved promises.
The decision, taken on Saturday 15 November during a tense meeting at the Faculty of Letters, revives the fears of students and parents who remember the October standoff. Back then, a last-minute government pledge to clear salaries had delayed industrial action. That truce has now expired.
Salary Arrears Fuel Anger
Union leaders say five months of wages remain outstanding: August and September 2024, plus August, September and October 2025. They also highlight unpaid supplementary hours dating to 2018 and warn that social-security deductions have not been transferred to the National Social Security Fund.
“Our members are reaching breaking point,” explains Dr. Brice Mabiala, spokesperson for the College of Trade Unions. He insists the arrears place university staff behind their civil-service counterparts, a discrepancy that, in his words, “undermines morale and the quality of teaching”.
Three Key Demands
The inter-syndical communiqué sets out three non-negotiable steps: settle the five-month salary backlog, pay all accumulated overtime and channel the full amount of social contributions to the CNSS. Until these points are honored, courses, enrollments and even result boards are frozen.
Only one exception survives: written and practical exams for the ISEPS entrance competition will proceed, so that sports science candidates are not penalized. Everything else – from lectures to administrative paperwork – halts the moment the strike whistle blows.
Students Face Disruption
In the corridors of the central campus, students express anxiety rather than anger. “We already lost weeks last year,” says economics sophomore Nadège Obambi. “If classes stop again, graduation schedules will drift.” Many are scanning social media groups to verify which faculties will lock their gates.
Parents, especially those commuting from neighboring districts, fear extra transport costs and accommodation fees. A teacher-parent association representative reports dozens of requests for guidance. “Families need clarity,” he stresses, urging authorities and unions to produce a joint timetable, even if temporary, to avoid unnecessary displacement.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
The Ministry of Higher Education has not yet issued an official statement. Sources inside the department say budget technicians are “re-auditing” payroll lines to determine the exact debt (source: Congo News Agency, 16 Nov 2025). No timeline has been shared for payments.
Observers recall that on 6 October the same ministry promised an emergency disbursement once treasury cash flow improved. For unionists, the delay signals indifference; for government insiders, it reflects complex fiscal constraints triggered by fluctuating oil revenues and post-pandemic recovery programs.
Political Neutrality Stressed
Mindful of electoral sensitivities, the inter-union has warned political parties against exploiting the walkout. “Our fight is social, not partisan,” reads the communiqué. Analysts note that previous campus disputes occasionally spilled into rallies, but leaders are keen to keep the focus on staff welfare.
Possible Paths to Compromise
Negotiators familiar with public-sector talks suggest a phased repayment schedule could unlock lectures within days. A similar formula soothed hospital strikes in 2023, blending immediate partial payments with a signed calendar for the remainder, monitored jointly by unions and the Finance Ministry.
Alternative funding windows also exist. Economists point to the upcoming budget revision, expected in December, which could reallocate savings from fuel-subsidy reforms toward education salaries. Such a move would match the government’s stated priority of nurturing local talent and boosting national research output.
What Monday Could Look Like
Should no agreement emerge by dawn Monday, union marshals plan to blockade administrative buildings while keeping safety corridors open for laboratory maintenance. Security staff have been briefed to avoid confrontation. Lecture halls will be dark, but canteens may operate on reduced hours.
Students are advised to monitor official faculty pages from 06:00 for updates. Urban transport company STPU says its morning services to the downtown campus will run normally, yet warns of heavier congestion if last-minute mediation meetings draw crowds.
Long-Term Outlook for Education
Stakeholders across Brazzaville agree on one point: dialogue remains the only durable exit. Whether talks resume before Monday or during the strike, the outcome will shape the academic calendar and set a precedent for public-sector wage management in the months ahead.
Experts urge a broader conversation on sustainable university funding. With enrollment climbing and campus infrastructure aging, regular wage delays risk sparking recurring crises. “Stable financing is essential to retain lecturers and compete regionally,” argues education consultant Mireille Ndinga, calling for multi-year budgeting tied to performance metrics.
Meanwhile, student unions weigh their own stance. Some advocate a peaceful sit-in to support lecturers, while others fear losing critical study weeks before semester exams. Negotiators hope a visible student presence could encourage a swift settlement without compromising the neutral academic atmosphere prized by administrators, especially during tense exam periods.
