In the Republic of Congo, the 2019 CIMA takaful regulation appears among the applicable texts published by the General Secretariat of the Government, yet no takaful insurer or window has been identified in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire.
Brazzaville, not to be confused with Kinshasa
We cover here the Republic of Congo, whose capital is Brazzaville and which belongs to CIMA. The Democratic Republic of the Congo falls under another regime, and some online articles even mix up the two countries in their web addresses.
Sixty-five CIMA texts listed by the SGG
The Congolese General Secretariat of the Government publishes the list of applicable CIMA texts, 65 documents in all. Regulation No. 003/CIMA/PCMA/PCE/2019 appears on it, confirming that it applies to companies based in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
The CRCA at the top of Congolese supervision
The Treaty signed in Yaoundé on 10 July 1992 places Congolese insurers under the Regional Insurance Control Commission, itself answerable to the Council of Insurance Ministers. This commission is the body that would rule on a takaful licence application.
National directorate: unverified information
The national department responsible for insurance in Congo could not be verified, for lack of an accessible official website. For practical steps, it is wise to start from the texts published by the SGG and the official communications of the CIMA General Secretariat.
Takaful as defined in Book IX
In Article 900, the 2019 regulation defines takaful as mutual solidarity among participants who pool their contributions in a fund. The operator manages that fund, often in return for a wakala commission specified in the Congolese contract.
Two possible statuses for a Congolese insurer
Article 903 reserves the business to companies licensed exclusively for takaful or to existing insurers granted a licence extension. A Pointe-Noire company could therefore open a takaful window without creating a new legal entity, provided the regional commission approves it.
General takaful versus family takaful
Two branches coexist: general takaful for motor, home or business risks, and family takaful for protection, death cover and savings. A project in Congo would therefore have to specify the targeted branch in its licence application to the regional supervisor.
No operator identified in Congo so far
Our research found no takaful company or Islamic window in Congo. Nor are there verified market figures that would allow anyone to estimate the potential size of such an offer in the country, so projections should be treated with caution.
Gabon and Cameroon, same rules
Neighbouring Gabon and Cameroon apply the same Book IX as Congo, and no takaful has been identified in Gabon either. A regional comparison therefore offers no ready-made solution for a policyholder living in Brazzaville.
How to narrow the gap with sharia
Without an alternative, choose simple indemnity policies that compensate actual loss rather than hybrid products bundling savings at a guaranteed rate. Motor third-party liability, imposed by the CIMA Code, must remain in place with an insurer licensed in Congo.
Repatriation and death: specific needs
For Muslim families wanting a swift burial or transfer of the body, conventional body repatriation insurance limited to actual costs can serve as a stopgap. Check response times and whether formalities from Brazzaville are handled.
Tracking regulatory change from Brazzaville
The CRCA's first takaful opinion, granted to CORIS in Burkina Faso and announced in February 2025, shows that the zone is moving. Regularly checking the SGG list and the commission's decisions helps spot any future Congolese licence early.
Checks to make before getting insured in Congo
- Consult the list of CIMA texts published by the Congolese SGG to confirm the framework applicable to takaful.
- Ask any company calling itself Islamic for proof of a takaful licence or extension approved by the CRCA.
- Obtain the sharia committee's fatwa and a description of the wakala, mudaraba or hybrid model.
- Compare the contribution, the operator's commission and the surplus distribution rule for Congolese participants.
- Identify exclusions and deductibles, especially for insured vehicles and homes.
- Report every loss in writing within the contractual deadline and keep a dated copy of each exchange with the insurer.
How the cost of takaful in Congo would be built
| Component | Purpose | What influences it |
|---|---|---|
| Tabarru contribution | Build the mutual compensation fund | Insured risk, amount covered, track record |
| Wakala management fee | Pay the operator | Contractual rate validated by the sharia committee |
| Operator's mudaraba share | Share gains from investments | Return on compliant assets |
| Distributed surplus | Return part of the excess to participants | Claims for the year and provisions |
| Deductible | Amount not compensated | Plan and contribution selected |
Standard file for insurance in Congo
- Congolese identity card, passport or current residence permit
- Proof of address dated within the last three months
- Vehicle registration and the regular driver's licence
- Title deed or lease for the premises to be insured
- Health questionnaire for any protection cover
- Murabaha or ijara contract when the asset has Islamic financing
Traps to avoid in Congo
- Mixing up the Republic of Congo and the DRC when reading an offer or article, although their insurance regimes are entirely different.
- Buying a so-called halal product in Brazzaville with no sharia committee and no takaful licence verifiable with the CRCA.
- Dropping motor third-party liability while waiting for a compliant product, at the risk of penalties and paying compensation personally.
- Taking a conventional insurer's window for a stand-alone takaful company without checking that the participants' fund is segregated.
- Believing a promise of surplus that is not set out in black and white in the contract offered by the Congolese insurer.
Questions about Islamic insurance in Brazzaville
Is takaful legal in the Republic of Congo?
Yes. Regulation No. 003/CIMA/PCMA/PCE/2019 is on the list of applicable CIMA texts published by the General Secretariat of the Government. A company can therefore apply for a takaful licence or extension, even though none has done so according to the sources consulted.
Does this information apply to the DRC?
No. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is not a CIMA member and has its own insurance regulation. The 2019 takaful regulation does not apply there, so see our dedicated DRC coverage to understand that country's situation.
How many CIMA texts apply in Congo?
The General Secretariat of the Government lists 65 applicable CIMA texts, including the 2019 takaful regulation. That official list is a good starting point for checking the law in force before signing a contract or setting up an insurance project.
What should I do if an insurer offers an Islamic product in Pointe-Noire?
Ask for the CRCA decision mentioning takaful activity, the membership of the sharia committee and the participants' fund rules. Without these, the product legally remains a conventional contract, whatever its commercial name.