Housing Conditions and Urban Governance in Brazzaville: A Statistical and Qualitative Assessment

Housing conditions and urban governance have emerged as major global challenges, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions where population growth outpaces infrastructure development. Worldwide, cities face rising rental pressures, widening service inequalities, and increasing demand for inclusive governance capable of addressing socio-spatial disparities. In this context, the present study provides a comprehensive assessment of housing conditions in Brazzaville using a mixed-methods survey of 250 households across the city’s nine districts. The results show that 68% of households are tenants, nearly half earn less than 100,000 CFA francs per month, and rent consumes about one-third of monthly income. Access to basic services remains uneven: while 82% of households are connected to electricity, only 59% consider the supply reliable, and sanitation coverage reaches just 38%. Qualitative thematic analysis identifies eight recurrent concerns—including water access, electricity reliability, rental cost, sanitation, security, and infrastructure quality—revealing a pattern of persistent socio-spatial inequalities, particularly in districts such as Talangaï, Ouenzé, and Mfilou. These findings reflect broader global trends in urban vulnerability and highlight the need for reinforced governance mechanisms. The study recommends prioritizing infrastructure investment in underserved districts, strengthening local housing governance, and institutionalizing participatory approaches to improve transparency and residents’ engagement in urban decision-making.