Youth in Republic of Congo Seek Change Amid Poverty in Oil-Rich Nation

In Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, street vendors like Romain Tchicaya sell unregulated medicines as rising costs of basic goods drive people to seek affordable alternatives. Despite being an oil-rich nation, nearly half the population lives below the poverty line, with high unemployment among educated youth. As President Denis Sassou Nguesso seeks re-election, economic concerns dominate, highlighting the challenges posed by the country’s reliance on oil revenues, which have not translated into improved living standards.

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