The visit of the Italian delegation to the Republic of Congo took place on January 9, 2026, with the participation of the Minister of Health, Prof. Orazio Schillaci, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli.
The delegation arrived in Brazzaville in the early afternoon at Maya-Maya International Airport, where it was welcomed by the Minister of International Cooperation and Promotion of Public-Private Partnership, Denis Christel Sassou N'Guesso, and the Minister of Health and Population, Jean Rosaire Ibara. This was followed by an initial official meeting between the parties, concluded with an exchange of institutional gifts.
During the visit, the Italian delegation carried out inspections at the Blanche Gomes Mother-Child Hospital and Makélékélé Hospital, with the aim of verifying the progress and results of the work financed by Italian Cooperation and carried out by Althea, within the framework of strengthening the Congolese health system.
Alongside the visits to health facilities, an institutional meeting was held with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, during which the topics of bilateral cooperation and development prospects in sectors of common interest were addressed.
Subsequently, the Italian delegation was received at the residence of the President of the Republic, Denis Sassou N'Guesso, with whom a meeting was held aimed at further consolidating bilateral relations between Italy and the Republic of Congo.
During the institutional meetings, the Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Congolese Minister of International Cooperation jointly identified the agricultural sector as the next priority area for cooperation, with particular reference to the development of the cocoa supply chain. In this context, the strategic interest in the SOCOCÀ project was highlighted, considered suitable to contribute to sustainable development, the enhancement of local resources and the strengthening of bilateral economic partnership.
Before the delegation's departure, Vice Minister Hon. Edmondo Cirielli also reiterated to the Italian Ambassador in the Republic of Congo the need to concentrate all operational and institutional efforts to fully implement and continue the SOCOCÀ project, recognized as a priority initiative within the framework of Italian-Congolese cooperation in the agricultural sector.
The visit concluded in the late afternoon with a stop at the Italian Ambassador's Residence and the subsequent departure of the Italian delegation for Italy.
Overall, the mission represented a high-level institutional moment, confirming the common will to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation between Italy and the Republic of Congo, expanding joint action from the health sector to the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
