Central African Republic

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. In March 2003 a military coup deposed the civilian government of President Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new government.

• tropical;
• hot, dry winters;
• mild to hot, wet summers

• tap water is not potable;
• poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
• desertification;
• deforestation

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:

Law of the Sea

0-14 years:

43.1% (male 799,241; female 788,370)

15-64 years:

53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740)

65 years and over:

3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.74 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

noun:

Central African(s)

adjective:

Central African

conventional long form:

Central African Republic

conventional short form:

none

local short form:

none

local long form:

Republique Centrafricaine

former:

Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire

abbreviation:

CAR

• 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
• Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

chief of state:

President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)

head of government:

Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers

elections:

• NA;
• current president assumed power following a coup on 15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE was overthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be held by NA 2004);
• prime minister appointed by the president

• Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
• Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges);
• Court of Appeal;
• Criminal Courts;
• Inferior Courts

chief of mission:

Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY

FAX:

[1] (202) 332-9893

telephone:

[1] (202) 483-7800

chancery:

1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS

embassy:

Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

mailing address:

B. P. 924, Bangui

telephone:

[236] 61 02 00

FAX:

[236] 61 44 94

• four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center;
• there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

lowest 10%:

0.7%

highest 10%:

47.7% (1993)

revenues:

$NA

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

general assessment:

fair system

domestic:

network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication

international:

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

23,810 km

paved:

643 km

unpaved:

23,167 km (1999 est.)

• internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries;
• violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border with Sudan