World Statesmen.org HOME >


 
 

Central African Republic
 
[France]
13 Jul 1894 - 1 Dec 1958
[Central African Republic]
Adopted 1 Dec 1958
Map of Central
African Republic
Hear National Anthem
"La Renaissance"
(The Renaissance)
Text of National Anthem
Adopted 25 May 1960
Constitution
(30 Aug 2023; in French)
----------------------------------
2016 Constitution
(27 Mar 2016-30 Aug 2023)
2004 Constitution
(27 Dec 2004-27 Mar 2016)
Capital: Bangui
(Abiras 1903-11 Feb 1906;
Fort-de-Possel
11 Feb - 11 Dec 1906)
(Haut-Oubangui:
Mobaye 1891-1894,
Abiras 1894-1903;
Haut-Chari: Fort Crampel
 1900-1940) 		Currency:  Communauté
Financière Africaine
Franc (XAF); and Bitcoin
(XBT) from 27 Apr 2022
 National Holiday: 1 Dec (1958)
Fête de la République
(Republic Day) 		Population: 5,650,957 (2024)
GDP: $5.85 billion (2023) 
Exports: $293.1 million (2022)
Imports: $784.7 million (2022)
Ethnic groups: Baya (Gbaya) 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003)
Total Active Armed Forces: 10,150 (2021)
Russian Forces: 1,500 (2024)
UN MINUSCA Force: 18,782 (2024)
Merchant marine: None (2023)
Religions: Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha'i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020)
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority.
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfCFTA, AfDB, APM, AU, BDEAC, BEAC, BTWC, CCM (signatory), CEEAC, CEMAC, CEN-SAD, CTBT, CWC, ECOWAS (observer), EITI, ESCR, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OST (signatory), UN, UNCLOS (signatory), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Central African
Republic Index
Chronology

 9 Dec 1891                Haut-Oubangui (Upper Ubangi) region
                              within French Congo (see Congo [Brazzaville]).
 1892 - 25 Feb 1895         Oubangui-Bomu territory claimed by the Congo
                             Free State.
13 Jul 1894                Haut-Oubangui colony (autonomy suppressed 
                             10 Dec 1899 - 29 Dec 1903).
26 Jun 1899                Bangui founded by French explorers Louis Henry
                             Albert Dolisie and Henri Alfred Louis Uzac.
10 Dec 1899 - 29 Dec 1903  Haut-Oubangui province, within French Congo.
 5 Sep 1900 - 11 Jun 1904  Haut-Chari region created within French Congo.
29 Dec 1903                Oubangui-Chari (Ubangi-Shari) colony.
11 Feb 1906                Oubangui-Chari territory, part of 
                             Oubangui-Chari-Tchad colony.
15 Jan 1910                Oubangui-Chari, Middle Congo (now Congo
                             [Brazzaville]), Gabon, and Chad form 
                             French Equatorial Africa [AEF]
                             [see Congo (Brazzaville]).
12 Apr 1916                Oubangui-Chari colony (Oubangui-Chari-Tchad colony
                             dissolved).
30 Jun 1934                Oubangui-Chari region of French Equatorial Africa 
                             (part of AEF colony).
31 Dec 1937                Oubangui-Chari overseas territory (part 
                             of AEF colony).
16 Jun 1940 - 29 Aug 1940  Administration loyal "Vichy" France (from 29 Aug
                             1940, under "Free" French).
27 Oct 1946                Oubangui-Chari overseas territory of France.
                             (still part of AEF colony).
 1 Dec 1958                Central African Republic (République Centrafricaine)
                             (in Sango: Koddorosêse tî Bê-Afrîka [other
                             spelling exist], Sango was designated either
                             national or an official language by Constitution
                             of 26 Nov 1964 and further constitutions, but
                             French continues as the sole language for official
                             purposes).
 1 Dec 1958 - 13 Aug 1960  Member state of the Communauté (French Community).
17 May 1960 - Aug 1960     Part of Union of Central African Republics (L'Union
                              des Républiques d'Afrique Centrale), a loose
                             federation of Chad, Central African Republic and
                              Republic of Congo (to Jul 1960).
13 Aug 1960                Independence from France.
 4 Dec 1976                Central African Empire (Empire Centrafricain).
21 Sep 1979                Central African Republic (République Centrafricaine)
                             (restored).
Traditional
States
Haut-Oubangui
 (1890-1904)
Haut-Chari
 (1899-1904)
Oubangui-Bomu
 (1892-1895)
Logone
(2015-2016?)
Historical maps
 of Central African
 Republic
 
 
 
 

Haut-Oubangui

Delegate of the Commissioner-general of Oubangui
25 Sep 1890 -  9 Apr 1891  Paul Crampel                       (b. 1864 - d. 1891)
 Delegates of the Commissioner-general and Directors of Haut-Oubangui
  9 Aug 1890 -  1 Jan 1892  Edmond Ponel                       (b. 1849 - d. 1928)
                             (Station Chief in charge of Haut-Oubangui zone)
  1 Jan 1892 – 13 Jul 1894  Victor Liotard                     (b. 1858 - d. 1916)
 Commandant Superiors
 13 Jul 1894 – 22 Aug 1894  Parfait-Louis Monteil              (b. 1855 - d. 1925)
                              (did not take office)
 22 Aug 1894 - 22 Feb 1895  Eugène Louis Frédéric Decazes      (b. 1844 - d. 1913)
                              (acting)
 22 Feb 1895 - 1895         Leonce Ditte (acting)              (b. 1856 - d. 1899)
Commissioner of the government
1895 - 27 Sep 1897         Victor Liotard                     (s.a.)
 Lieutenant governor
27 Sep 1897 - May 1898     Victor Liotard                     (s.a.)
Commandant-delegate
May 1898 - 18 Jun 1899     Adolphe Louis Cureau               (b. 1864 - d. 1913)
Delegate of the Commissioner-general
18 Jun 1899 - 10 Dec 1899  ... Henry                          (d. 1899)
Chiefs of the Province
10 Dec 1899 – 31 Dec 1900  Henri Bobichon                     (b. 1866 – d. 1939)
31 Dec 1900 - 1902         Lucien Emile Pierre Prins          (b. 1870 - d. 1945)
1902 - 31 Mar 1903         Lucien Schneider                   (b. 1868 - d. 1903)
c.Apr 1903 - Oct 1904      ... Dic

Haut-Chari

Commissioners of the government of Haut-Chari
 Aug 1899 - c.Mar 1901      Émile Gentil                       (b. 1866 - d. 1914)
 c.Mar 1901 - c.Dec 1902    Georges Matthieu Destenave         (b. 1854 - d. 1928)
                              (acting to July 1901)
Commandant
 Dec 1902 - 11 Jul 1904     Georges-Gilbert Bruel              (b. 1871 - d. 1944)


Oubangui-Chari and Central African Republic


Governors-delegate
30 Jun 1904 - c.Jan 1905   Alphonse Joseph Jaeck (acting)     (b. 1858 - d. 19..)
 c.Jan 1905 - 22 Aug 1905   Adolphe Louis Cureau               (b. 1864 - d. 1913)
 22 Aug 1905 - 16 Feb 1906  Victor Emmanuel Merlet (acting)    (b. 1862 - d. 19..) 
16 Feb 1906 - 25 Dec 1906  Louis Paul Émilien Lamy            (b. 1856 - d. 1938)
                             (acting from 4 Apr 1906)
Lieutenant governors
25 Dec 1906 - 28 Feb 1909  Émile Joseph Merwart               (b. 1869 - d. 1960)
1908                       Léon Herménégilde Maran            (b. 1864 - d. 1912)
                             (acting for Merwart)
28 Feb 1909 -  5 Aug 1910  Lucien Louis Fourneau (acting)     (b. 1867 - d. 1930)
 5 Aug 1910 - 10 Jun 1911  Paul Pierre Marie Georges Adam     (b. 1865 - d. 1916)
                             (1st time)(acting)
10 Jun 1911 - 24 Nov 1913  Frédéric Estèbe                    (b. 1863 - d. 1936)
24 Nov 1913 -  5 Aug 1916  Paul Pierre Marie Georges Adam     (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)(acting)
12 Oct 1916 - 17 Jul 1917  Victor Emmanuel Merlet             (s.a.) 
12 Oct 1916 - 17 Jul 1917  Auguste Lamblin                    (b. 1870 - d. 1946)
                             (acting for Merlet)
17 Jul 1917 - 26 Sep 1929  Auguste Lamblin (1st time)         (s.a.)
                             (acting to 16 May 1919)
31 Aug 1920 - Dec 1921     Alphonse Diret (acting for Lamblin)(b. 1872 - d. 1973)
 17 Aug 1923 - Nov 1924     Pierre Claude Emmanuel François    (b. 1869 - d. 1933)
                             (acting for Lamblin)
 1 Jul 1926 - Jul 1928     Georges David Pierre Marie         (b. 1874 - d. 1942)
                             Prouteaux (acting for Lamblin)
22 Oct 1929 - 30 Oct 1930  Georges David Pierre Marie         (s.a.) 
                             Prouteaux (acting)
30 Oct 1930 - 17 Aug 1934  Adolphe Deitte                     (b. 1879 - d. 1949)
 8 Mar 1933 - Feb 1934     Pierre Simon Antonin Bonnefont     (b. 1877 - d. 1950)
                             (acting for Deitte)
Governors-delegate
17 Aug 1934 - 21 May 1935  Adolphe Deitte                     (s.a.)
21 May 1935 - 30 May 1936  Richard Edmond Maurice Édouard     (b. 1883 - d. 1958)
                             Brunot
1936                       Louis de Poyen-Bellisle            (b. 1877 - d. 1937)
                             (acting for Brunot)
30 May 1936 - 23 Oct 1936  Pierre Simon Antonin Bonnefont     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
23 Oct 1936 - 24 Oct 1936  Émile Buhot-Launay (acting)        (b. 1881 - d. 1970)
24 Oct 1936 - 31 Dec 1937  Max de Masson de Saint-Félix       (b. 1882 - d. 1958)
Governors
 31 Dec 1937 - 28 Mar 1939  Max de Masson de Saint-Félix       (s.a.)
28 Mar 1939 - 21 Feb 1941  Pierre de Saint-Mart (acting)      (b. 1885 - d. 1965) 
Chefs de territoire
21 Feb 1941 - 30 May 1942  Pierre de Saint-Mart               (s.a.) 
                             (acting to 15 Jul 1941)
30 May 1942 - 30 Jul 1942  André Jean Gaston Latrille         (b. 1894 - d. 1987)
30 Jul 1942 -  3 Apr 1946  Henri Camille Sautot               (b. 1885 - d. 1963)
 3 Apr 1946 - 25 Apr 1948  Jean Victor Louis Joseph Chalvet   (b. 1893 - d. 1975)
24 May 1946 - Oct 1946     Henri Lacour (acting for Chalvet)  (b. 1897 - d. 1960)
 25 Apr 1948 -  1 Dec 1948  Jean Mauberna (acting)             (b. 1904 - d. 1983)
 1 Dec 1948 - 27 Jan 1949  Auguste Léon Valentin Éven         (b. 1897 - d. 1980)
                             (1st time) (acting)
27 Jan 1949 -  4 Jan 1950  Pierre Jean Marie Delteil          (b. 1907 - d. 2002)
 4 Jan 1950 -  1 Mar 1950  Auguste Léon Valentin Éven         (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) (acting)
 1 Mar 1950 -  9 Jul 1951  Ignace Jean Aristide Colombani     (b. 1908 - d. 1988)
 9 Jul 1951 - 19 Oct 1951  Pierre Jean Raynier (acting)       (b. 1904 - d. 1979)
 19 Oct 1951 - 31 Mar 1954  Aimé Marius Louis Grimald          (b. 1903 - d. 2000)
31 Mar 1954 - 29 Jan 1958  Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco       (b. 1912 - d. 2009)
                             (acting to 2 Dec 1954)
29 Jan 1958 -  9 Jan 1959  Paul Camille Bordier               (b. 1921 - d. 2003)
 High Commissioner
 9 Jan 1959 - 13 Aug 1960  Paul Camille Bordier               (s.a.)
Presidents 
14 Aug 1960 -  1 Jan 1966  David Dacko (1st time)             (b. 1930 - d. 2003)  MESAN
                             (acting to 12 Nov 1960)
  1 Jan 1966 -  4 Dec 1976  Jean-Bédel Bokassa                 (b. 1921 - d. 1996) Mil;Aug 1967
                             (18 Oct - 4 Dec 1976, Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa)        MESAN
Emperor¹ 
  4 Dec 1976 - 20 Sep 1979  Bokassa I                          (s.a.)               MESAN
Presidents
 21 Sep 1979 -  1 Sep 1981  David Dacko (2nd time)             (s.a.)            MESAN;1980 UDC
  1 Sep 1981 - 22 Oct 1993  André-Dieudonné Kolingba           (b. 1936 - d. 2010) Mil;1987 RDC
                             (chairman of Military Committee for National
                              Recovery, Chief of State to 21 Sep 1985)
 22 Oct 1993 - 15 Mar 2003  Ange-Félix Patassé                 (b. 1937 - d. 2011)  MLPC 
 15 Mar 2003 - 24 Mar 2013  François Bozizé Yangouvonda        (b. 1946)         None;2009 KNK
 24 Mar 2013 - 18 Jul 2013  Michel Djotodia Am-Nondroko        (b. 1949)            UFDR
Chiefs of State of the Transition
18 Jul 2013 March 2013 - 10 Jan 2014  Michel Djotodia Am-Nondroko        (s.a.)               UFDR
 10 Jan 2014 - 23 Jan 2014  Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet       (b. 1972)            RPR
                             (interim)
 23 Jan 2014 - 30 Mar 2016  Catherine Samba-Panza (f)          (b. 1956)            Non-party
 President
30 Mar 2016 -              Faustin-Archange Touadéra          (b. 1957)           KNK;2018 MCU


Vice President of the Government Council
14 May 1957 - 22 Aug 1958  Abel Nguéndé Goumba                (b. 1926 - d. 2009)  MESAN
President of the Government Council
22 Aug 1958 -  8 Dec 1958  Abel Nguéndé Goumba                (s.a.)               MESAN
President of the Provisional Government
 8 Dec 1958 - 16 Feb 1959  Barthélemy Boganda                 (b. 1910 - d. 1959)  MESAN
Presidents of the Government 
16 Feb 1959 - 29 Mar 1959  Barthélemy Boganda                 (s.a.)               MESAN
29 Mar 1959 - 30 Apr 1959  Abel Nguéndé Goumba (1st time)     (s.a.)               MESAN
                             (substitute acting to 8 Apr 1959)
30 Apr 1959 -  1 Jan 1966  David Dacko                        (s.a.)               MESAN
 1 Jan 1966 -  4 Sep 1976  Jean-Bédel Bokassa                 (s.a.)               MESAN
Prime ministers (subordinated to the President of the Government to 7 Dec 1976)
 6 Jun 1974 -  4 Apr 1976  Élisabeth Domitien (f)             (b. 1925 - d. 2005)  MESAN
 5 Sep 1976 - 14 Jul 1978  Ange-Félix Patassé                 (s.a.)               MESAN
14 Jul 1978 - 24 Sep 1979  Henri Maïdou                       (b. 1936)            MESAN
24 Sep 1979 - 12 Nov 1980  Bernard Christian Ayandho          (b. 1930 - d. 1993)MESAN;1980UDC
12 Nov 1980 -  3 Apr 1981  Jean-Pierre Lebouder               (b. 1944)            UDC
 3 Apr 1981 -  1 Sep 1981  Simon Narcisse Bozanga             (b. 1942 - d. 2010)  UDC
 1 Sep 1981 - 15 Mar 1991  André-Dieudonné Kolingba           (s.a.)              Mil;1987 RDC
                             (chief of government to 15 Jan 1991)
15 Mar 1991 -  4 Dec 1992  Édouard Frank                      (b. 1934)            RDC
 4 Dec 1992 - 26 Feb 1993  Timothée Malendoma                 (b. 1935 - d. 2010)  FC
26 Feb 1993 - 24 Oct 1993  Enoch Dérant Lakoué                (b. 1944)            PSD
24 Oct 1993 - 12 Apr 1995  Jean-Luc Mandaba                   (b. 1943 - d. 2000)  MLPC
12 Apr 1995 -  6 Jun 1996  Jean Edouard Gabriel Koyambounou   (b. 1947)            MLPC
 6 Jun 1996 - 30 Jan 1997  Jean-Paul Ngoupandé                (b. 1948 - d. 2014)  PUN
                             (arrives in Bangui 11 Jun 1996)
30 Jan 1997 -  4 Jan 1999  Michel Gbézéra-Bria                (b. 1946)            Non-party
 4 Jan 1999 -  1 Apr 2001  Anicet Georges Dologuélé           (b. 1957)            MLPC
 1 Apr 2001 - 15 Mar 2003  Martin Ziguélé                     (b. 1957)            MLPC
23 Mar 2003 - 12 Dec 2003  Abel Nguéndé Goumba (2nd time)     (s.a.)               FPP
12 Dec 2003 - 11 Jun 2005  Célestin Leroy Gaombalet           (b. 1942 - d. 2017)  Non-party
11 Jun 2005 - 22 Jan 2008  Élie Doté                          (b. 1948)            Non-party
22 Jan 2008 - 17 Jan 2013  Faustin-Archange Touadéra          (s.a.)               KNK
17 Jan 2013 - 25 Jan 2014  Nicolas Tiangaye                   (b. 1956)            Non-party
25 Jan 2014 - 14 Aug 2014  André Nzapayeké                    (b. 1951)            Non-party
14 Aug 2014 -  2 Apr 2016  Mahamat Kamoun                     (b. 1961)            Non-party
 2 Apr 2016 - 27 Feb 2019  Simplice Mathieu Sarandji          (b. 1955)           KNK;2018 MCU
27 Feb 2019 - 15 Jun 2021  Firmin Ngrébada                    (b. 1968)            MCU
15 Jun 2021 -  9 Feb 2022  Henri-Marie Dondra                 (b. 1966)            Non-party
 9 Feb 2022 -              Félix Moloua                       (b. 1957)            Non-party

Force Commanders of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization
Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
15 Sep 2014 - 30 Nov 2015  Martin Chomu Tumenta (Cameroon)    (b. 1954 - d. 2015)
                        (commandant of AU MISCA 19 Dec 2013 - 15 Sep 2014)
 7 Nov 2015 - 29 Feb 2020  Balla Keïta (Senegal)              (b. 1956)
                             (acting [for Tumenta to 30 Nov 2015] to 11 Feb 2016)
 6 Mar 2020 - Jan 2023     Daniel Sidiki Traoré (Burkina Faso)(b. 1957)
Jan 2023 - 15 May 2023     Pedro Miguel Alves Gonçalves Soares
                             (Portugal) (acting)
15 May 2023 -              Humphrey Nyone (Zambia)
  ¹Full style 4 Dec 1976 - 20 Sep 1979: Empereur de Centrafrique ("Emperor of Central Africa"); description- Empereur de Centrafrique par la volonté du peuple Centrafricain, uni au sein du parti politique national, le MESAN ("Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN").

Territorial Disputes: Periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with South Sudan over water and grazing rights; periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with The Sudan over water and grazing rights.

Party abbreviations: FPP = Front Patriotique pour le Progrès (Patriotic Front for Progress, social democratic, est.1991); KNK = Convergence Nationale "Kwa Na Kwa" (National Convergence "Kwa Na Kwa", social democratic, est.2003); MCU = Mouvement des Coeurs Unis (United Hearts Movement,  democratic, secular, republican, split from KNK, est.10 Nov 2018); MLPC = Mouvement pour la Libération du Peuple Centrafricain (Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People, christian-democratic, 1993-2003 A.F. Patassé personalist, est.1979); PSD = Parti Social Démocrate (Social Democratic Party, social democratic, est.1991); PUN = Parti de l'Unité Nationale (National Unity Party, est.1997); PR = Rassemblement pour la République (UFDR opposition, est.2013); RDC = Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain (Central African Democratic Rally, authoritarian, A.D. Kolingba personalist, 1987-1991 only legal party, est.1987); UFDR = Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, anti-Bozizé, Séléka coalition, est.13 Apr 2007); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: FC = Forum Civique (Civil Forum, 1992-2005); MEDAC = Mouvement pour l'Évolution Démocratique de l'Afrique Centrale (Movement for the Democratic Evolution of Central Africa, anti-Dacko, anti-authoritarian, 1960-23 Dec 1960); MESAN = Mouvement d'Évolution Sociale d'Afrique Noire (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa, pro-independence, African nationalist, Nov 1962-1979 only legal party, 1949-24 Nov 1979, renamed UDC); UDC = Union Démocratique Centrafricaine (Central African Democratic Union, former MESAN, 1980-1981 only legal party, 1980-1993)

Logone

 [Republic of Logone/Dar al-Kuti flag 2015 (Central African Republic)]
 
14 Aug 2014                State of Dar al-Kuti (État de Dar el-Kouti) was declared by
                             independent by Nouredine Adam with its de facto capital at
                             Tiringoulou (not recognized by C.A.R.)
Dec 2014                   Heads of state of CEEAC forced Adam to withdraw Dar al-Kuti's
                             declaration of independence.
14 Dec 2015 - 2016?        Republic of Logone (République de Logone) proclaimed by Noureddine
                             Adam as an autonomous state in north-east Central African
                             Republic at Kaga-Bandoro. Name is soon changed to Dar al-Kuti
                             (Dar el-Kouti) to avoid confrontation with other Chadian armed
                             groups (not recognized by C.A.R.).
President
14 Aug 2014 - Dec 2014     Michel Djotodia Am-Nondroko        (b. 1949)            UFDR
                             (in exile)
Leader
 14 Dec 2015 - 2016?        Noureddine Adam                    (b. 1970)            Mil/FDPC
                             (de facto leader 14 Aug 2014 - Dec 2014)
  
 Party abbreviation: FDPC = Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain (Democratic Front of the Central African People, anti-government militia, est.2004)

Oubangui-Bomu
[Flag of Congo Free State]
1892                       Oubangui-Bomou (Haut-Ubangui-Bomu) territory administered
                              by the Congo Free State.
 14 Aug 1894                Franco-Congolese border treaty.
 25 Feb 1895                End of Congo Free State administration.           

Commandant Supérieurs
(subordinated to the Governors-general of Congo Free State)
18 Jun 1892 -  9 Oct 1892  Georges Le Marinel (1st time)      (b. 1860 - d. 1914)
 9 Oct 1892 – 19 Apr 1893  Georges Adolphe Balat              (b. 1853 - d. 1893)
 19 Apr 1893 - Nov 1893     Léon Charles Édouard Hanolet       (b. 1859 – d. 1908)
 Nov 1893 - 25 Feb 1895     Georges Le Marinel (2nd time)      (s.a.)



© Ben Cahoon