Tensions Return to Marien Ngouabi University Campus
The normally bustling halls of Marien Ngouabi University, the only public university in Congo-Brazzaville, have fallen silent after unions announced a new indefinite strike set to begin on November 17. Saturday’s vote reversed the cautious optimism that had followed wage negotiations concluded on October 6.
Union leaders, following an extraordinary meeting at the Faculty of Arts, stated they could no longer “contain the growing frustration” of teachers, administrative staff, and technicians. For many on campus, this statement reopened the question of how quickly last month’s salary commitments can be realized.
The strike call, communicated by the Inter-Union College, automatically suspends classes, registrations, and the publication of exam results, although entrance tests for the Institute of Sports and Physical Education are spared. Students now await clarification on scholarship payments and academic calendars already disrupted by the pandemic years.
Unions List Unpaid Salaries and Parity Demands
At the heart of the conflict are five months of salary arrears covering August and September 2024 as well as the last three months of 2025, compounded by what unions calculate as seven years of unpaid overtime allowances. They also denounce irregular social security transfers to the National Social Security Fund.
“We are simply asking for the same treatment as other civil servants,” stated the spokesperson for the National Union of Higher Education. She argues that teaching staff played a key role during the country’s recovery from COVID-19 disruptions and therefore deserves full harmonization with the broader public service pay scales.
Administrators share this view, highlighting the rising cost of living in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. They contend that predictable compensation would help retain researchers increasingly recruited by private universities in neighboring countries—a trend many fear could weaken Congo’s only doctoral programs in engineering and medicine.
Government Cites Budget Balance and Ongoing Dialogue
Officials at the Ministry of Higher Education insist the October agreement remains on track. A senior advisor noted that Treasury disbursements for August salaries “have already been processed” and the remaining months will follow a schedule being finalized with the Ministry of Finance.
The advisor pointed out that the public wage bill absorbs over half of recurrent expenditures, noting the government had already increased the higher education budget by 12 percent in the 2025 finance law. “We must protect macroeconomic stability while honoring our workforce,” he added, hinting that staggered payments could be the compromise.
Observers note that the next general election, in less than two years, heightens sensitivity to wage disputes. The government spokesperson praised the university’s “patriotic sense of responsibility” and stated the Cabinet would review the matter “in the same spirit of partnership demonstrated in October.”
Students Navigate Uncertainty and Tuition Payment Deadlines
Student associations fear the academic year could extend into July if teaching stops for long. “Many of us rent off-campus rooms and our leases expire in June,” explained a third-year economics student, urging both sides to protect a class that has already lost semesters to COVID-19.
International students from Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic are also closely monitoring the situation. Their residence permits and scholarship transfers are tied to proof of enrollment, which cannot be issued while administrative services observe the strike. Some are now considering the costly option of transferring credits to universities in their home countries.
Traders on University Avenue, who rely on the daily flow of students, anticipate tough weeks ahead. One vendor said sales of office supplies and snacks dropped 30 percent during the brief October stoppage. “If classes stop again before Christmas, small businesses like mine will feel it immediately,” she warned.
Analysts Advocate for a Sustainable Funding Model
A higher education economist argues both sides must address the structural issue of funding Congo’s only public university. He notes that enrollment has tripled over the past decade while the budget increased more slowly, forcing reliance on temporary contracts and delaying lab modernization.
He suggests an annual multilateral roundtable bringing together the private sector, development partners, and alumni to diversify revenue. He cites examples in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal where co-financed endowment funds support scholarships and research chairs, easing immediate pressure on public treasuries during commodity price downturns.
For the unionist, the priority remains paying the arrears, but she is open to a broader pact. “If we solve salaries without fixing funding, we’ll be back here again,” she conceded, adding that staff are ready to participate in audits that could improve transparency and attract new donors.
Countdown to November 17
With just days until the announced shutdown, a joint technical committee is scheduled to meet early this week at the Ministry of Public Service. Participants will review cash flow projections and a proposed schedule for settling arrears, according to a draft agenda shared with unions Sunday evening.
If a consensus emerges, teaching and research could continue uninterrupted, preserving exam schedules and holiday travel plans. Otherwise, Congo’s flagship campus may once again empty, testing student resilience and the government’s commitment to keeping social dialogue at the heart of its development agenda.