Central African Republic

1890 – French colonization: The French begin colonizing the region, known as French Equatorial Africa

1960 – Independence from France (Friday, August 13, 1960): The Central African Republic gains independence from France

1966 – Jean-Bédel Bokassa’s coup: Bokassa overthrows the government and establishes a military dictatorship

1976 – Bokassa declares himself Emperor (Tuesday, December 4, 1976): Bokassa declares himself Emperor of the Central African Empire

1979 – Bokassa is overthrown: A French-backed coup removes Bokassa from power

1991–1993 – Civil war: The country faces instability due to civil war and conflict between various factions

2013 – Seleka rebels seize power: The Seleka rebel group takes control of the country, leading to a period of violence and instability

2016 – New constitution adopted: A new constitution is adopted, marking the beginning of a fragile peace process

2020 – COVID-19 pandemic impact: Like the rest of the world, the Central African Republic is impacted by the pandemic, though cases are relatively low compared to other regions

Continent: Africa (Central Africa)
Location: Bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, Cameroon to the west, and Congo to the southwest
Capital: Bangui
Language: French (official), Sango (official)
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Population: ~5.5 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1)Continent: Africa (Central Africa)

Borders: Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Republic of the Congo
Landscape: Central African Plateau, tropical rainforests, savannahs, and wetlands
Major Rivers: Ubangi River, Chari River, Oubangui River, and the Mbomou River
Major Mountains: Mount Ngaoui (highest peak), part of the Ngoko Mountains in the southwest
Deserts: Central African Republic is not known for large deserts but has semi-arid regions in the north
Lakes: Lake Oubangui, located along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Volcanoes: There are no major active volcanoes in Central African Republic
Notable Features: The country lies on the Central African Plateau, with diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforest to savannah.

Ethnic Groups: Bantu (majority), Sudanic, and other ethnic groups
Religion: Christianity (about 80%), Islam (about 10%), indigenous religions (about 10%)
Urban Population: ~38% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: The population is ethnically diverse, with over 80 different ethnic groups.

Famous For: Traditional music, dance, and art; cultural diversity
Cuisine: Millet, cassava, peanuts, plantains, and stews
Arts: Traditional music (like Mbaka), wood carving, beadwork, and basket weaving
Sports: Football (soccer), basketball

Economy Type: Low-income, with agriculture and natural resources as the backbone of the economy
GDP: Approx. $2.5 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Agriculture (cassava, maize, peanuts), mining (diamonds, gold), timber, and petroleum
Key Exports: Diamonds, gold, timber, cotton
Unemployment Rate: ~6.2% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: The economy is centered around Bangui, but much of the country remains rural, relying on subsistence farming.

Government Type: Unitary presidential republic
Head of State: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra (last updated: April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Félix Moloua (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral National Assembly
Constitution: In effect since 2016

Boali Falls: Located near Bangui, these spectacular waterfalls are a popular tourist attraction
Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its biodiversity
Baïbalé Game Reserve: Famous for its wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, and rare antelope
Bambari: A city and cultural hub in the east of the country
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park