Central African Republic
Situated about 500 mi (805 km) north of the equator, the Central African
Republic is a landlocked nation bordered by Cameroon, Chad, the Sudan, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Congo. The Ubangi and the
Shari are the largest of many rivers.
Government
Republic.
History
From the 16th to 19th century, the people of this region were ravaged by slave
traders. The Banda, Baya, Ngbandi, and Azande make up the largest ethnic groups.
The French occupied the region in 1894. As the colony of Ubangi-Shari, what is
now the Central African Republic was united with Chad in 1905. In 1910 it was
joined with Gabon and the Middle Congo to become French Equatorial Africa. After
World War II a rebellion in 1946 forced the French to grant self-government. In
1958 the territory voted to become an autonomous republic within the French
Community, and on Aug. 13, 1960, President David Dacko proclaimed the republic's
independence from France. Dacko moved the country politically into Beijing's
orbit, but he was overthrown in a coup on Dec. 31, 1965, by Col. Jean-Bédel
Bokassa, army chief of staff.
On Dec. 4, 1976, the Central African Republic became the Central African Empire.
Marshal Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who had ruled the republic since he took power in
1965, was declared Emperor Bokassa I. Brutality and excess characterized his
regime. He was overthrown in a coup on Sept. 20, 1979. Former president David
Dacko returned to power and changed the country's name back to the Central
African Republic. An army coup on Sept. 1, 1981, deposed President Dacko again.
In 1991, President André Kolingba, under pressure, announced a move toward
parliamentary democracy. In elections held in Aug. 1993, Prime Minister
Ange-Félix Patassé defeated Kolingba. Part of Patassé's popularity rested on his
pledge to pay the back salaries of the military and civil servants.
A
1994 economic upturn was too small to effectively improve the catastrophic
financial condition of the nation. Patassé was unable to pay the salaries due to
government workers, and the military revolted in 1996. At Patassé's request,
French troops suppressed the uprising. In 1998 the United Nations sent an
all-African peacekeeping force to the country. In elections held in Sept. 1999,
amid widespread charges of massive fraud, Patassé easily defeated Kolingba.
Patassé survived a coup attempt in May 2001, but two years later, in March 2003,
he was overthrown by Gen. François Bozizé. After two years of military rule,
presidential elections were held, and Bozizé won in what international monitors
called a free and fair election.
In May 2007, the International Criminal Court began investigating war crimes
that were allegedly committed in 2002 and 2003 during civil unrest that followed
the attempted coup against Patassé.
Prime Minister Elie Dote and his government resigned in January 2008, a day
before Parliament was set to debate a censure motion against him. Faustin
Archange Touadéra was named as his successor.
Location
Central Africa, north of Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Ethnic groups
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%,
other 2%
Religions
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant
25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian
majority
Independence
13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)