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The Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in Berlin |
Contact
Address: Wallstraße 69 10179 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 123 785 46
E-mail: botschaftkongobzv@hotmail.de
The Ambassador
Amb. Edith Antoinette Itoua
Edith Antoinette Itoua, a seasoned diplomat and distinguished member of several boards, serves as a Foreign Affairs Counselor of the 7th echelon. Born on July 20, 1964, in Boundji, Congo, she brings a wealth of experience and a broad educational background to her role. Itoua is also a respected member of the Board of Directors of the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS) and the Agency of Planning Promotion and Development of Special Economic Zones (APPD-ZES). Her dedication to her country's development and welfare is recognized through her commendation as a Commander in the National Order of Congolese Merit.
Her interdisciplinary and international studies mark Itoua's educational journey. 2006-2007, she earned a Master of Arts in Diplomacy from EBS Paris (European Business School). Between 1995 and 1997, she pursued a double major at the University of Paris 8 Saint-Denis, France, obtaining a License in Foreign Languages and Civilizations in English and a DEA in Foreign Languages and Civilizations in Russian (Slavic studies). Earlier, from 1985 to 1991, she completed her Diploma of Advanced Studies in Philology-Russian Language at the Herzen Pedagogical Institute of Leningrad, St-Petersburg, Russia. Her foundational education includes a Baccalauréat A in Languages English and Russian from Lycée de la Révolution, Brazzaville, Congo.
Since 2016, Itoua has been an advisor to the President of the Republic of Congo, heading the Department of Social Protection, Professional Organizations, and Social Dialogue. Her mission involves monitoring and evaluating government action on social issues, including operationalizing universal health insurance in Congo and facilitating social dialogue.
From 2013 to 2016, she was an advisor to the President of the Republic, focusing on Congolese abroad, developing strategies for their integration and mobilization towards the development of Congo.
Her career also spans a significant tenure at the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in Paris from 1998 to 2013, where she served as Personal Assistant to the Ambassador and Secretary to the Ambassador, managing bilateral and multilateral files and the Ambassador's agenda.
Itoua is multilingual, speaking French and Lingala as her mother tongues, and is bilingual in Russian. She is fluent in English and possesses strong computer skills in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
Her associative life includes being a founding member of the International Network of Congolese Abroad (RICE), where she has been active in organizing meetings and aiding deprived populations following disasters.
A connoisseur of literature, cinema, and foreign languages, Edith Antoinette Itoua's diverse interests and skills complement her professional achievements, making her a dynamic and influential figure in the diplomatic and cultural spheres.
History
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Congo and Germany have intensified since 2013, as a result of the German embassy in Brazzaville being re-opened. The German Embassy in Brazzaville had been closed in 1997 on account of the civil war.
Nevertheless the Republic of Congo is not a partner of German bilateral development cooperation. Among the German businesses operating there, is the German insurance group, Allianz, as well as companies active in the infrastructure sector and the timber industry.
Cultural cooperation between Germany and the Republic of Congo is limited in scope. Germany provides follow-up support for former scholarship holders from the country and advises students who want to study in Germany. German is an optional subject at three grammar schools in Brazzaville but is not taught at the University of Brazzaville. The only German language courses available are those offered by the private Cercle linguistique in Bakongo.
