Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
KdrssetBafrka
Rpubliquecentrafricaine
Capital
and largest city
Bangui
422N 1835E
Demonym
Government
-
Central African
Military junta
President
Michel Djotodia
Prime Minister
Nicolas Tiangaye
Legislature
-
M'Baka
Yakoma
others
from France
Total
Water (%)
2009 estimate
4,422,000[1] (124th)
2003 census
3,895,150
Density
GDP (PPP)
Total
-
Per capita
GDP (nominal)
Total
-
Per capita
Gini (2008)
HDI (2011)
Currency
Time zone
-
7.1/km2 (223rd)
18.4/sq mi
2012 estimate
$3.891 billion[2]
$800[2]
2012 estimate
$2.172 billion[2]
$446[2]
56.3[3]
high
0.343
low 179th
Central African CFA franc (XAF)
WAT (UTC+1)
Summer (DST)
Drives on the
Calling code
right[4]
+236
CF
.cf
Contents
1 History
o 1.1 Early history
o 1.2 Exposure to the outside world
o 1.3 French colonial period
o 1.4 Independence
2 Geography
o 2.1 Prefectures and sub-prefectures
o 2.2 Climate
3 Demographics
o 3.1 Religion
o 3.2 Language
4 Government and politics
o 4.1 Recent events
5 Human rights
6 Foreign relations and military
o 6.1 Foreign aid
o 6.2 Peacebuilding Commission
o 6.3 Peacebuilding Fund
7 Economy
8 Infrastructure
o 8.1 Science and technology
o 8.2 Transportation
o 8.3 Energy
o 8.4 Education
o 8.5 Health
9 Culture
o 9.1 Music
o 9.2 Sports
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
History
Part of a series on the
History of the
Central African Republic
Pre-colonial states
Colonial period
Independent RCA
v
t
e
Early history
Between about 1000 BC and 1000 AD, Ubangian-speaking peoples spread eastward from
Cameroon to Sudan, settling in most of what is now known as the Central African Republic.
During the same period, a much smaller number of Bantu-speaking immigrants settled in southwestern CAR and a number Central Sudanic-speaking people settled along the Oubangi. As a
result of these early migrations, the majority of the CAR's present population speakUbangian
languages, or Bantu languages that belong to the NigerCongo family. A minority speak Central
Sudanic languages of the Nilo-Saharan family.
had acquired. The reported financial successes of Leopold II's concessionary companies in the
Congo Free State convinced the French government to grant 17 private companies large
concessions in the Ubangi-Shari region in 1899. In return for the right to exploit these lands by
buying local products and selling European goods, the companies promised to pay rent to France
and to promote the development of their concessions. The companies employed European and
African agents, who frequently used brutal methods to force the Africans to work for them. At
the same time, the French colonial administration began to force the local population to pay taxes
and to provide the state with free labor. The companies and the French administration at times
collaborated in forcing the Central Africans to work for them. Some French officials reported
abuses committed by private company militias, and their own colonial colleagues and troops, but
efforts to bring these criminals to justice almost always failed. When any news of atrocities
committed against Central Africans reached France and caused an outcry, investigations were
undertaken and some feeble attempts at reform were made, but the situation on the ground in
Ubangi-Shari remained essentially the same.
During the first decade of French colonial rule, from about 1900 to 1910, the rulers of the
Ubangi-Shari region increased both their slave-raiding activities and the selling of local produce
to Europe. They took advantage of their treaties with the French to procure more weapons, which
were used to capture more slaves: much of the eastern half of Ubangi-Shari was depopulated as a
slave-trading by local rulers during the first decade of colonial rule.[citation needed]
Oubangui-Chari in 1910
During the 1910s, armed employees of private companies and the colonial state dealt brutally
with any local resistance, but after the power of local African rulers was destroyed, slave raiding
greatly diminished. In 1911, the Sangha and Lobaye basins were ceded to Germany, as part of an
agreement which gave France a free hand in Morocco. Western Ubangi-Shari remained under
German rule until World War I, after which France reconquered this territory using Central
African troops.
Independence
On 1 December 1958 the colony of Ubangi-Shari became an autonomous territory within the
French Community and took the name Central African Republic. The founding father and
president of the Conseil de Gouvernement, BarthlmyBoganda, died in a mysterious plane
accident in 1959, just eight days before the last elections of the colonial era.
On 13 August 1960, the Central African Republic gained its independence and two of Boganda's
closest aides, Abel Goumba and David Dacko, became involved in a power struggle. With the
backing of the French, Dacko took power and soon had Goumba arrested. By 1962, President
Dacko had established a one-party state.
Jean-BdelBokassa.[12]
On 31 December 1965, Dacko was overthrown in the Saint-Sylvestre coup d'tat by Colonel
Jean-BdelBokassa, who suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly.
President Bokassa declared himself President For Life in 1972, and named himself Emperor
Bokassa I of the Central African Empire (as the country was renamed) on 4 December 1976. A
year later, Emperor Bokassa crowned himself in a lavish and expensive ceremony that was
ridiculed by much of the world.[12] Around 100 elementary school students were killed in April
1979.[13] In 1979 France carried out a coup against Bokassa and "restored" Dacko to power (the
name of the country was subsequently restored to Central African Republic). Dacko, in turn, was
overthrown in a coup by General Andr Kolingba on 1 September 1981.
Kolingba suspended the constitution and ruled with a military junta until 1985. He introduced a
new constitution in 1986 which was adopted by a nationwide referendum. Membership in his
new party, the RassemblementDmocratiqueCentrafricain (RDC) was voluntary. In 1987, semicompetitive elections to parliament were held and municipal elections were held in 1988.
Kolingba's two major political opponents, Abel Goumba and Ange-Flix Patass, boycotted
these elections because their parties were not allowed to compete.
By 1990, inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, a pro-democracy movement became very active.
In May 1990, a letter signed by 253 prominent citizens asked for the convocation of a National
Conference but Kolingba refused this request and detained several opponents. Pressure from the
United States, more reluctantly from France, and from a group of locally represented countries
and agencies called GIBAFOR (France, USA, Germany, Japan, EU, World Bank and UN)
finally led Kolingba to agree, in principle, to hold free elections in October 1992, with help from
the UN Office of Electoral Affairs. After using the excuse of alleged irregularities to suspend the
results of the elections as a pretext for holding on to power, President Kolingba came under
intense pressure from GIBAFOR to establish a "Conseil National PolitiqueProvisoire de la
Rpublique" (Provisional National Political Council, CNPPR) and to set up a "Mixed Electoral
Commission" which included representatives from all political parties.
When elections were finally held in 1993, again with the help of the international community,
Ange-Flix Patass led in the first round and Kolingba came in fourth behind Abel Goumba and
David Dacko. In the second round, Patass won 53% of the vote while Goumba won 45.6%.
Most of Patass's support came from Gbaya, Kare and Kaba voters in seven heavily populated
prefectures in the northwest while Goumba's support came largely from ten less-populated
prefectures in the south and east. Furthermore, Patass's party, the Mouvement pour la Libration
du PeupleCentrafricain (MLPC) or Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People
gained a simple but not an absolute majority of seats in parliament, which meant Patass needed
coalition partners.
Patass relieved former President Kolingba of his military rank of general in March 1994 and
then charged several former ministers with various crimes. Patass also removed many Yakoma
from important, lucrative posts in the government. Two hundred mostly Yakoma members of the
presidential guard were also dismissed or reassigned to the army. Kolingba's RDC loudly
proclaimed that Patass's government was conducting a "witch hunt" against the Yakoma.
A new constitution was approved on 28 December 1994 and promulgated on 14 January 1995,
but this constitution, like those before it, did not have much impact on the practice of politics. In
19961997, reflecting steadily decreasing public confidence in its erratic behaviour, three
mutinies against Patass's government were accompanied by widespread destruction of property
and heightened ethnic tension. On 25 January 1997, the Bangui Agreements were signed which
provided for the deployment of an inter-African military mission, the Mission Interafricaine de
Surveillance des Accords de Bangui (MISAB). Mali's former president, AmadouTour, served as
chief mediator and brokered the entry of ex-mutineers into the government on 7 April 1997. The
MISAB mission was later replaced by a U.N. peacekeeping force, the Mission des Nations Unies
en RCA (MINURCA).
On 28 May 2001, rebels stormed strategic buildings in Bangui in an unsuccessful coup attempt.
The army chief of staff, Abel Abrou, and General Franois N'DjadderBedaya were shot, but
Patass regained the upper hand by bringing in at least 300 troops of the rebel leader Jean-Pierre
Bemba (from across the river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and by Libyan soldiers.
In the aftermath of this failed coup, militias loyal to Patass sought revenge against rebels in
many neighborhoods of the capital, Bangui, that resulted in the destruction of many homes as
well as the torture and murder of many opponents. Eventually Patass came to suspect that
General Franois Boziz was involved in another coup attempt against him and so Boziz fled
with loyal troops to Chad. In March 2003, Boziz launched a surprise attack against Patass, who
was out of the country. Libyan troops and some 1,000 soldiers of Bemba's Congolese rebel
organization failed to stop the rebels, who took control of the country and thus succeeded in
overthrowing Patass.
Franois Boziz suspended the constitution and named a new cabinet which included most
opposition parties. Abel Goumba, known as "Mr. Clean",[citation needed] was named vice-president,
which gave Boziz's new government a positive image. Boziz established a broad-based
National Transition Council to draft a new constitution and announced that he would step down
and run for office once the new constitution was approved. A national dialogue was held from 15
September to 27 October 2003, and Boziz won a fair election that excluded Patass, to be
elected president on a second ballot, in May 2005.
In November 2006, the Boziz government requested French military support to fend off rebels
who had taken control of towns in the country's north.[14] Though the initially public details of
the agreement pertained to logistics and intelligence, the French assistance eventually included
strikes by Mirage jets against rebel positions.[15]
Boziz was reelected in an election in 2011 which was widely considered fraudulent.[16]
In November 2012 a coalition of rebel groups took over towns in the north and center of the
country. These groups eventually reached a peace deal with the Boziz's government in January
2013 involving a power sharing government.[16] This peace deal was later broken when the rebels
who had joined the power sharing government left their posts and rebel groups stormed the
capital. Boziz fled the country and Michel Djotodia took over the presidency.
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Central African Republic
Falls of Boali on
the Mbali River
The Central African Republic is divided into 14 administrative prefectures (prfectures), along
with two economic prefectures (prfectureseconomiques) and one autonomous commune. The
prefectures are further divided into 71 sub-prefectures (sous-prfectures).
Climate
Main article: Climate of the Central African Republic
The climate of the Central African Republic is generally tropical, with a wet season that lasts
from June to September in the north of the country, and from May to October in the south.
During the wet season there are rainstorms on an almost daily basis and there is often early
morning fog. Maximum annual precipitation is 71 inches (1,800 mm) in the upper Ubangi
region.[19]
The northern areas are hot and humid from February to May,[20] but can be subject to the hot, dry
and dusty trade wind known as the Harmattan. The southern regions have a more equatorial
climate but are subject to desertification, while the northeast of the country already is a desert.
Demographics
Religion
Main article: Religion in the Central African Republic
Fifty percent of the population of CAR are Christians (Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%),
while 35% of the population maintain indigenous beliefs. Islam is practised by 15% of the
country's population.[7] There are many missionary groups operating in the country, including
Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. While these
missionaries are predominantly from the United States, France, Italy and Spain, many are also
from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries. Missionaries
left the country when fighting broke out between rebel and government forces in 2002-3, but
many of them have now returned to continue their work.[24]
Language
Main article: Languages of the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic's two official languages are Sangho, aNgbandi-based creole, and
French.
United Nations Development Programme. The 'Observatoire National des Elections' monitored
the election process.[33] Both Boziz and his party scored major victories.[citation needed]
Recent events
Main article: Central African Republic conflict (2012present)
Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with Faustin-ArchangeTouadra at a 2009
reception in New York City.
Despite the veneer of stability during that era, Boziz's rule was plagued with heavy corruption,
underdevelopment, nepotism, and authoritarianism, leading to an open rebellion against the
Boziz government by an alliance of armed opposition factions known as the Slka Coalition
during the Central African Republic Bush War and the 20122013 Central African Republic
conflict that eventually led to his overthrow on 24 March 2013.
In December 2012, Slka Coalition rebels advanced towards the capital, prompting protests at
the French embassy and the evacuation of the US embassy.[34] After several days of clashes and
rebel advances, and following the refusal by the French government to intervene, the Boziz
government agreed to holding talks with rebels.[35] On 24 March 2013, the Slka rebels marched
into the capital and stormed the presidential palace, forcing Boziz to flee to Cameroon via the
Democratic Republic of Congo.[36][37]
The rebel leader Djotodia proclaimed himself President after conquering the capital of Bangui.
Nicolas Tiangaye remained as the prime minister: he was recently appointed and was allowed by
the Slka rebels to retain his post, as he was endorsed by the opposition.[38]
Resistance against the new rulers consisted mostly of armed youths, and soldiers in a base 60
kilometres (37 mi) from the capital. By 27 March, normal life in the capital had begun to be
resumed.[39] Top military and police officers recognized Djotodia as President on 28 March
2013, in what was viewed as "a form of surrender".[40]
A new government was appointed on 31 March 2013, which consisted of members of Slka and
representatives of the opposition to Boziz, one pro-Bozizindividual[41][42] and a number
representatives of civil society. On 1 April, the former opposition parties declared that they
would boycott the government.[43] After African leaders in Chad refused to recognize Djotodia as
President, proposing instead the formation of an transitional council and the holding of new
elections, Djotodia accordingly signed a decree on 6 April for the formation of a council that
would act as a transitional parliament. The council was tasked with electing a president to serve
prior to elections in 18 months.[44]
Human rights
Main article: Human rights in the Central African Republic
The 2009 Human Rights Report by the United States Department of State noted that, in general,
the CAR's human rights record remained poor. Concerns were expressed over numerous
government abuses.[45] Freedom of speech is addressed in the country's constitution, but there
were incidents of government intimidation with the intent to limit media criticism.[45] A report by
the International Research & Exchanges Board's media sustainability index noted that "the
country minimally met objectives, with segments of the legal system and government opposed to
a free media system".[45]
From 1972 to 1990, and in 2002 and 2003, the CAR was rated 'Not Free' by Freedom House. It
was rated 'Partly Free' in 19912001 and from 2004 to the present.[46] On the United Nations
Human Development Index, it ranks 179 out of 187 countries.[47]
According to the U.S. State Department, major human rights abuses occur in the country. These
include: extrajudicial executions by security forces; the torture, beating and rape of suspects and
prisoners; impunity, particularly among the armed forces; harsh and life-threatening conditions
in prisons and detention centers; arbitrary arrest and detention, prolonged pretrial detention and
denial of a fair trial; restrictions on freedom of movement; official corruption; and restrictions on
workers' rights. The State Department report also cites: widespread mob violence that often
results in fatalities; the prevalence of female genital mutilation; discrimination against women
and Pygmies; trafficking in persons; forced labor; and child labor. Freedom of movement is
limited in the northern part of the country "because of actions by state security forces, armed
bandits, and other nonstate armed entities" and due to fighting between government and antigovernment forces, many persons have been internally displaced.[48]
Foreign aid
The Central African Republic is heavily dependent upon multilateral foreign aid and the
presence of numerous NGOs which provide services which the government fails to provide. As
one UNDP official put it, the CAR is a country "sous serum", or a country metaphorically
hooked up to an IV. (Mehler 2005:150). The very presence of numerous foreign personnel and
organizations in the country, including peacekeepers and even refugee camps, provides an
important source of revenue for many Central Africans.[citation needed]
Much of the country is self-sufficient in food crops. Livestock development is hindered by the
presence of the tsetse fly.
In 2006, due to ongoing violence, over 50,000 people in the country's northwest were at risk of
starvation.[49] This was only averted thanks to United Nations support.[citation needed]
Peacebuilding Commission
On 12 June 2008, the Central African Republic became the fourth country to be placed on the
agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission,[50] which was set up in 2005 to help countries
emerging from conflict avoid the slide back into war or chaos. The 31-member body agreed to
take up the situation after a request from the government.
Peacebuilding Fund
On 8 January 2008, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon declared that the Central African
Republic was eligible to receive assistance from the Peacebuilding Fund.[51] Three priority areas
were identified: firstly, the reform of the security sector; secondly, the promotion of good
governance and the rule of law; and, thirdly, the revitalization of communities affected by
conflicts.
Economy
(30.4%), followed by China (17.1%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (7.9%), France (7.1%),
Indonesia (6.3%), and Morocco (5.3%).[7]
The per capita income of the Republic is often listed as being around $300 a year, said to be one
of the lowest in the world, but this figure is based mostly on reported sales of exports and largely
ignores such unregistered sale of foods, locally produced alcohol, diamonds, ivory, bushmeat and
traditional medicine. For most Central Africans, the informal economy of the CAR is more
important than the formal economy.[citation needed] Among the
[[Mining_industry_of_the_Central_African_Republic]], diamonds constitute the country's most
important export, accounting for 4055% of export revenues, but it is estimated that between
30% and 50% of those produced each year leave the country clandestinely. Export trade is
hindered by poor economic development and the country's location away from the coast.[citation
needed]
The wilderness regions of this country represent potential ecotourist destinations. In the
southwest, the Dzanga-Sangha National Park is located in a rain forest area. The country is noted
for its population of forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. To the north, the ManovoGounda St Floris National Park is well-populated with wildlife, including leopards, lions, and
rhinos. The Bamingui-Bangoran National Park is located in the north-east of CAR. The parks
have been badly affected by the activities of poachers, in particular from Sudan, over the past
two decades.[citation needed]
CAR is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa
(OHADA).[52] In the 2009 World Bank Group's report Doing Business, it was ranked 180th of
181 as regards 'ease of business', a composite index that takes into account regulations that
enhance business activity and those that constrain it.[53]
Infrastructure
Science and technology
See also: Communications in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has active television service and radio stations.
Transportation
See also: Transportation in the Central African Republic
Trucks in Bangui
The Central African Republic has over 1,800 motor vehicles on the road, although a limited
quantity of land has been developed into highways.
Energy
See also: Energy in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic primarily uses hydroelectricity because there are few resources for
energy.
Education
Public education in the Central African Republic is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 14.[54]
About half the adult population of the country is illiterate.[55] The University of Bangui, a public
university located in Bangui, and Euclid University, an international university in Bangui are the
two institutions of higher education in the Central African Republic.
Health
Main article: Health in the Central African Republic
In 2007, female life expectancy at birth was 48.2 years and male life expectancy at birth was
45.1 years.[56] The fertility rate is about five births per woman.[56] According to 2009 estimates,
the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is about 4.7% of the adult population (ages 1549).[57]
Government expenditure on health was at US$ 20 (PPP) per person in 2006.[56] There were 0.08
physicians per 100,000 people in 2004.[58] Government expenditure on health was at 10.9% of
total government expenditure in 2006.[56]
Culture
See also: List of African writers (by country)#Central African Republic
Music
Main article: Music of the Central African Republic
Sports
The Central African Republic national football team, which is governed by the
FdrationCentrafricaine de Football, stage matches at BarthelemyBoganda Stadium.