Central African Republic

Central African Republic

Introduction

Background

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. President Ange-Felix PATASSE’s civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in the neighboring nations of Chad, Sudan, and the DRC continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well.

Geography

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 622,984 sq km
country comparison to the world: 45 land:622,984 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 5,203 km
border countries:Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, South Sudan 990 km, Sudan 175 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical

hot, dry winters

mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain

vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau

scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point:Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops:0.15%
other:96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

144.4 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita:7cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas

floods are common

Environment – current issues

tap water is not potable

poaching has diminished the country’s reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges

desertification

deforestation

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Law of the Sea

Geography – note

landlocked

almost the precise center of Africa

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Central African(s)
adjective:Central African

Ethnic groups

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M’Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Languages

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Religions

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note:animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Population

4,950,027 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117 note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 41% (male 1,021,144/female 1,007,819)
15-64 years:55.3% (male 1,353,600/female 1,382,291)
65 years and over:3.7% (male 73,977/female 111,196) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 19.2 years
male:18.8 years
female:19.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.146% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Birth rate

36.46 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Death rate

15.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Urbanization

urban population: 39% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

BANGUI (capital) 702,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.67 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

850 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 8

Infant mortality rate

total: 99.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 7 male:107.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female:91.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 50.07 years
country comparison to the world: 213 male:48.84 years
female:51.35 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.63 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Health expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 168

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 136

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 67% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 33% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 43% of population
rural: 28% of population
total: 34% of population
unimproved:
urban: 57% of population
rural: 72% of population
total: 66% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

4.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

HIV/AIDS – deaths

11,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria
respiratory disease:meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 27

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:48.6%
male:64.8%
female:33.5% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years
male:8 years
female:5 years (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form:none
local long form:Republique Centrafricaine
local short form:none
former:Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation:CAR

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Bangui
geographic coordinates:4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Constitution

ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004

effective 27 December 2004

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government:Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 22 January 2008)
cabinet:Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

elections last held on 23 January 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Francois BOZIZE elected to a second term as president

percent of vote – Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.4%, Ange-Felix PATASSE 21.4%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 6.8%, Emile Gros Raymond NAKOMBO (RDC) 4.6%, Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH (NAP) 2.8%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats

members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – KNK 62, independents 26, MLPC 2, other 15

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Constitutional Court (three judges appointed by the president, three by the president of the National Assembly, and three by fellow judges)

Court of Appeal

Criminal Courts

Inferior Courts

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]

Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]

Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]

Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]

Londo Association or LONDO

Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed president)

National Convergence or KNK

National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]

New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]

Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]

People’s Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Monam (combating gender-base violence)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE
chancery:1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-7800
FAX:[1] (202) 332-9893

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence WOHLERS
embassy:Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address:B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone:[236] 61 02 00
FAX:[236] 61 44 94
note:the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Flag description

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center

a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band

banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors

red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance

the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future

National symbol(s)

elephant

National anthem

name: “Le Renaissance” (The Renaissance)
lyrics/music:Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note:adopted 1960

Barthelemy BOGANDA, who wrote the anthem’s lyrics, was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

Economy

Economy – overview

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR’s landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.446 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171 $3.337 billion (2009 est.)
$3.281 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.018 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114 1.7% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221 $700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 53.8%
industry:14.5%
services:31.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.926 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 121

Unemployment rate

8% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 note:23% unemployment for Bangui

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%:33% (2003)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 7

Investment (gross fixed)

11.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Budget

revenues: $325.7 million
expenditures:$335.2 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 3.5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 78 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$304.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169 $288.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$365.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180 $343.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$381.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171 $357.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas

timber

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity – production

160 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity – consumption

148.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Oil – consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Oil – imports

2,418 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Current account balance

-$168.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83 -$181.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$152.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184 $123.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports – partners

Belgium 25.6%, China 17.5%, Morocco 12.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.1%, France 6.1%, Indonesia 4.9% (2010)

Imports

$312.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193 $270.9 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports – partners

Netherlands 27.8%, France 11.9%, Cameroon 8.3%, China 5.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$186 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166 $210.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$402.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168 $396 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
481.8 (2007)
522.59 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

37 (2010)
country comparison to the world:106

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 35
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:12
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:6 (2010)

Roadways

total: 24,307 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 105

Waterways

2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo

it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville

because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, however, routes through Cameroon became preferred by importers and exporters) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34

Ports and terminals

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Military

Military branches

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective military service

2-year conscript service obligation (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,149,856
females age 16-49:1,145,897 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 655,875
females age 16-49:661,308 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 54,843
female:53,999 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 7,900 (Sudan)

3,700 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

note – UNHCR resumed repatriation of Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs:197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation

the majority of victims are children trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, street vending, and forced agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor

to a lesser extent, children are trafficked from the Central African Republic to Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

rebels continue to abduct and exploit enslaved Sudanese, Congolese, Central African, and Ugandan children for use as cooks, porters, concubines, and combatants
tier rating:Tier 3 – Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

the government, which has limited human and physical capital, did not investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, identify or provide protective services to trafficking victims, or take steps to raise public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking

the revised Central African penal code, enacted in January 2010, outlaws all forms of trafficking in persons, but awareness of this statute remains low (2011)