Congo-Brazzaville: the Quai d’Orsay withdraws a controversial video on visa applications.

A communication campaign by the French Embassy in Brazzaville has sparked controversy on social media. Titled “The Visa of Truth”, a video lasting less than two minutes was posted on June 26, 2026, on the Instagram account of the diplomatic representation before being removed a few hours later.

The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs requested its deletion after initial negative reactions. The Quai d’Orsay acknowledged that the content was deemed “inappropriate,” while noting that it had been produced locally by the embassy, in collaboration with Congolese figures.

The sequence was filmed in front of the French diplomatic representation in Brazzaville, which also handles visa applications for several Schengen countries, including Germany for Congolese nationals.

A parody aimed at denouncing fake files

The video features Congolese comedian Jojo La Légende as a young man insisting on getting a visa for France. Opposite him, a character presented as the French consul examines the credibility of his application and discusses several alleged fraudulent practices.

The dialogue notably references the fabrication of a report card in a cybercafé, the sudden appearance of 15 million FCFA in a bank account, and the use of altered documents. The stated goal was to remind viewers that a travel project should rely on verifiable information and authentic supporting documents.

A second Congolese figure, known as Maman Nationale, then intervenes in the skit. Dressed in French colors, she presents her own journey as an example of a visa application based on a legitimate file.

The preventive message corresponds to a concern officially expressed by French consular services in Congo. The France-Visas platform indicates that fake documents are regularly detected and that their presentation can lead to refusal as well as reporting to other Schengen countries.

However, the format chosen to convey this message provoked a reaction opposite to the intended one. Internet users criticized the paternalistic and caricatural portrayal of Congolese applicants. Some felt that the video too broadly associated African candidates with document fraud.

After its removal by the embassy, the clip was retrieved and republished on August 4 by the French satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné. This new release reignited the controversy and expanded reactions beyond Congo.

A local initiative not pre-approved by Paris

According to explanations reported by Le Monde, the video had not been previously approved by the central administration of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was conceived by the local team with Congolese influencers in order to avoid communication solely conveyed by French representatives.

The individuals behind the project also aimed to address recurring criticisms regarding visa refusals and raise public awareness about the consequences of presenting false supporting documents.

Nevertheless, the Quai d’Orsay considered that the choice of humor and the chosen scenario were not suitable for such a sensitive topic. The release came at a time when visa procedures remain a regular source of frustration in relations between France and several African countries.

In the Republic of Congo, applications are processed by the visa department of the French Embassy in Brazzaville. Their submission is managed by the TLScontact centers in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, while decisions solely lie with the French consular authorities.