Central African Republic

Central African Republic, 1979 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. The borders were established by France, which began annexing portions to the French Congo in the late 19th century and in 1903 established the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari. The Central African Bush War began in 2004 and, despite a peace treaty in 2007 and another in 2011, civil war resumed in 2012. In November 2012, Séléka, a coalition of rebel groups, took over towns in the northern and central regions of the country, and the rebels seized the capital in March 2013.

Seat of power: Bangui

Rulers

David Dacko

President of the Central African Republic, 1979–1981

He was the first President of the Central African Republic from 14 August 1960 to 31 December 1965 and the third from 21 September 1979 to 1 September 1981. After his second removal from power in a coup d'état led by General André Kolingba, he pursued an active career as an opposition politician and presidential candidate.

Portrait of David Dacko: Moshe Pridan, Public domain, file

André Kolingba

President of the Central African Republic, 1981–1993

He was the fourth President of the Central African Republic, from 1 September 1981 until 22 October 1993. He took power from President David Dacko in a bloodless coup d'état in 1981 and lost power to Ange-Félix Patassé in a democratic election held in 1993.

Ange-Félix Patassé

President of the Central African Republic, 1993–2003

He was president of the Central African Republic from 1993 until 2003, when he was deposed by the rebel leader François Bozizé in the 2003 coup d'état. He was the first president since 1960 to be chosen in what was generally regarded as a fairly democratic election, in 1993.

Portrait of Ange-Félix Patassé: Tanguy Jockmans - European Commission, CC BY 4.0, file

François Bozizé

President of the Central African Republic, 2003–2013

He was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Forces of Bozizé captured the capital, Bangui, in March 2003, while Patassé was outside the country, and Bozizé took power. On 24 March 2013, Bozizé fled to Cameroon via the Democratic Republic of the Congo after rebel forces attacked Bangui and took control of the presidential palace.

Portrait of François Bozizé: UNDP | hdptcar, CC BY-SA 2.0, file

Michel Djotodia

President of the Central African Republic, 2013–2014

He was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014, and the first Muslim to hold that office. Djotodia was a leader of the Séléka rebel coalition in the December 2012 rebellion against President François Bozizé, took power on 24 March 2013, and was pressured into resigning by regional leaders on 10 January 2014.

Portrait of Michel Djotodia: VOA, Public domain, file

Catherine Samba-Panza

President of the Central African Republic, 2014–2016

She served as Transitional President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to serve as head of state in the Central African Republic. Before that she was the Mayor of Bangui from 2013 to 2014.

Portrait of Catherine Samba-Panza: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, file

Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet

President of the Central African Republic, 2014–2014

He served as President of the National Transitional Council of the Central African Republic from 15 April 2013 to 6 May 2016. He briefly served as Acting President of the Central African Republic in January 2014.

Portrait of Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet: VOA, Public domain, file

Faustin-Archange Touadéra

President of the Central African Republic, 2016 to today

He has been president of the Central African Republic since March 2016, and was previously its prime minister from 2008 to 2013. He was elected to the presidency at the 2015-16 general election, in a second round of voting against former prime minister Anicet Georges Dologuélé. He was re-elected for a second term at the 2020-21 election and a third term at the 2025 Central African election.

Portrait of Faustin-Archange Touadéra: Christophe Licoppe / European Communities, 2025 / EC - Audiovisual Service, CC BY 4.0, file

Culture

Sango is its national language and was also its co-official language alongside French.
Two-thirds of the country is within the basin of the Ubangi River, while the remaining third lies in the basin of the Chari River, which flows into Lake Chad.
In the southwest, the Dzanga-Sangha National Park is located in a rainforest area, and the country is noted for its population of forest elephants and western lowland gorillas.
The region has been inhabited since at least 8000 BCE.

Picture

Bangui is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic.

Image: Bangui_City_3.jpg: Afrika Force from South Africa Bangui_Shopping_District.jpg: Afrika Force from South Africa OBangu..., CC BY-SA 3.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.