Republic of Congo bans full-face veils in attempt to prevent religious extremist attacks

Announcement was made today by the president of the country’s Islamic High Council

A full face veil (this one pictured in France) (Getty)

The Republic of Congo will ban full face-veils in an attempt to prevent violent extremism.

El Hadji Djibril Bopaka, the president of the country’s Islamic High Council, made the announcement earlier today.

Muslims are a minority group in the nation, located in central Africa and bordered by Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda.

The Islamic council leader said that the approximately 80,000 Muslims in his country were reacting positively to the news.

He added that his government would prevent non-resident from sleeping in mosques in order to encourage refugees to register with police.

The Republic of Congo is predominantly Christian with only 10 per cent registered Muslims or those who follow animist beliefs.

Unlike neighbouring Cameroon or the Central African Republic, the country has not suffered from religious or extremists violence.

Additional reporting from Associated Press