Central African Republic Facts and Culture

What is Central African Republic famous for?

• Family: For many, there are no formal wedding ceremonies but the man's family must pay a bride-price to the bride's family... More
• Personal Apperance: Women wear a pagne (cotton cloth) tied around the waist with a matching blouse made of the same... More
• Recreation: Soccer and basketball are the most popular sports. Dancing is a popular recreational pastime. More
• Food and Recipes: Cassava is the staple food. It is soaked for two-three days dried in the sun and then ground into flour.... More
• Visiting: Visiting others plays an important role in society. On Sunday afternoons or holidays many will put on their finest clothes... More

What is the capital of Central African Republic?

Capital	Bangui
Government Type	presidential republic
Currency	Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF)
Total Area	240,534 Square Miles 622,984 Square Kilometers
Location	Central Africa, north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Language	French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
GDP - real growth rate	5.2%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$700.00 (USD)

What is the population of Central African Republic?

Ethnic Groups	Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Nationality Noun	Central African(s)
Population	5,990,855
Population - note	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
Population Growth Rate	2.14%
Population in Major Urban Areas	BANGUI (capital) 740,000
Urban Population	39.100000

What type of government does Central African Republic have?

Executive Branch	chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Felix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022); note - Prime Minister Henri-Marie DONDRA resigned on 2 February 2022 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected for 5-year term; election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and institutes 7-year terms; note - presidential and partial legislative elections were held on 27 December 2020; voting was disrupted in some areas, delaying the first round of legislative elections until 14 March 2021; constituencies that did vote on 27 December 2020 held runoff elections for their legislators election results: 2020: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 53.9%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 25.1% 2015: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3%
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Citizenship	citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years
National Holiday	Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution	history: several previous; latest constitution passed by a national referendum on 30 July 2023 and validated by the Constitutional Court on 21 August 2023; note - the new constitution was proposed by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, removed term limits, and will allow President Touadéra to run again in 2025; opposition parties denounced the changes, claiming they were created to facilitate a "life precedency" for Touadéra amendments: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials
Independence	13 August 1960 (from France)

YouTube: daringdynamos The Street Children of Bangui, Central African Republic - War Child UK

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What environmental issues does Central African Republic have?

Overview	The Central African Republic, formerly known as the territory of Oubangui-Chari, was one of four territories of French Equatorial Africa. It became an autonomous republic within the newly established French Community on December 1, 1958, and was renamed the Central African Republic 2 years later. It transformed itself into the Central African Empire on December 4, 1976, and again became a republic (Republique Centrafricaine) on September 20, 1979. The Central African Republic is a landlocked country on a broad plateau in the heart of the African Continent. With an area of 238,000 square miles. It is bordered on the north by Chad, on the east by Sudan, on the south by the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and the Republic of Congo, and on the west by Cameroon. Most of the country is between 1,300 and 3,600 feet above sea level, with an average altitude of about 2,000 feet. The country is a watershed for the Lake Chad/Chari River Basin to the north and the Congo River Basin to the south. Although rivers are numerous, they are small and do not lend themselves to heavy commerce. The Oubangui River is commercially navigable only downstream from Bangi, and usually only between the months of July and January. Vegetation varies from tropical rain forest in the extreme southwest to semidesert in the northeast. The bulk of the country is wooded savanna.
Climate	Average monthly temperatures range from a low of around 66°F to a high of about 93°F. Most of the precipitation in the area of Bangui occurs between May and October, usually characterized by short, violent thunderstorms. Although it rains hard at times, the sun shines almost every day. Dust, generally sunny skies, and warm weather are the forecast for the dry season (November to April).
Border Countries	Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km
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
Terrain	Vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

How big is the Central African Republic economy?

Economic Overview	Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, 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 the estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled workforce, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. The distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro. Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR’s fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government’s management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery. Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth.
Industries	Gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
Currency Name and Code	Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF)
Export Partners	Norway 52.2%, China 14.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.3%
Import Partners	Norway 39.6%, France 6.8%, United States 4.6%

What current events are happening in Central African Republic?
Source: Google News

What makes Central African Republic a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s least developed nations and is currently experiencing a period of prolonged political instability and lawlessness. In March 2013, the Seleka rebel group overthrew the government in violent clashes with the CAR military and foreign troops. Despite an ongoing peace process and the creation of a transitional government, the security situation remains highly unstable. Gunfights and looting are ongoing and can erupt at any moment. The U.S. Department of State Travel Warning for the Central African Republic strongly warns against all travel to CAR. Those who choose to remain in the Central African Republic or to visit despite this advice should be aware that the U.S. Embassy in Bangui suspended operations on December 28, 2012, and therefore cannot provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in CAR.

The Government of the Republic of France, acting through its Embassy in Bangui, serves as Protecting Power for U.S. interests in CAR. The range of consular services the French Republic provides to U.S. citizens is extremely limited, and those services may require significantly more processing time than at U.S. embassies or consulates outside of CAR.

Crime

Crime remains a concern in the capital and has increased since the March 2013 overthrow of the government. You should exercise caution while traveling around the city and its immediate environs. Petty theft remains a problem in large market areas, particularly in the crowded markets near KM 5 on the outskirts of the city. Armed gangs may operate in outlying residential areas. During periods of civil unrest and conflict, citizens engage in violent, sometimes deadly, demonstrations which include widespread looting, burning of buildings, and blocking of roads. In the interior of the country, there are frequent reports of armed robbery and kidnapping by highway bandits (called “coupeurs de routes” or “zaraguinas”), especially during the December to May dry season. When a crime does occur in Bangui, the victim may have to pay to send a vehicle to pick up police officers due to the shortage of police vehicles and fuel.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the CAR, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Central African laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in the CAR are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in the CAR your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in the CAR, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In some cases, U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals have been detained indefinitely without due process.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities are extremely limited in the CAR, and the quality of care is unreliable. Sanitation levels are low. Many medicines are not available; you should carry properly labeled prescription drugs and other medications with you that will suffice for your entire visit.

Routine immunizations and protection from vaccine-preventable diseases such as yellow fever, rabies, polio, meningitis, typhoid, and hepatitis A and B are recommended. Malaria (predominantly P. falciparum) exists throughout the year and chemoprophylaxis is strongly recommended. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in the CAR. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.

Insect-borne illnesses are of concern as is Schistosomiasis, an illness related to contact with fresh water. Insect precautions and avoiding freshwater are recommended.

Safety and Security

Indiscriminate violence and looting followed the March 2013 overthrow of the Government of CAR, and the new transitional government has been unable to provide security in the capital Bangui or elsewhere in CAR. In the absence of basic law and order, criminality has sharply risen. Increased gunfire in the capital has led to several casualties by stray bullets.

Spontaneous demonstrations take place in the CAR from time to time in response to world events or local developments. We remind you that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. You are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. You should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Armed rebel groups, bandits, and poachers present real dangers, and the Central African government is unable to guarantee the safety of visitors in most parts of the country.

There have been repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate travelers throughout the CAR over the last 10 years. The continued presence of the Lord’s Resistance Army in eastern CAR poses a particular safety and security threat. Bandits, militias, and armed group activity throughout the country also threaten the security of residents and travelers. Travel in the interior is strongly discouraged.

Bangui itself, in addition to ongoing insecurity, also suffers from severely limited transport and medical options. Armed actors staff checkpoints throughout the city, frequently harassing local and expatriate travelers for bribes. The U.S. Department of State advises against all travel to the CAR.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the CAR is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

In Bangui, road conditions vary, and many roads have large holes and degraded areas that prevent the normal flow of traffic. Only a small portion of the roads in the country, including in the capital, are paved, and many of the compacted dirt roads have been degraded. Drivers tend to prefer to drive on the smoothest portion of the road and ignore basic traffic laws, thus slowing the flow of traffic and increasing the risk of collision. The city of Bangui does have a public transportation system consisting of green buses and yellow taxis, though these vehicles are often dangerously overcrowded and very badly maintained.

Due to the risk of armed attacks on motorists in the northern, eastern, and western regions of the country, overland travel in these areas should be avoided. Any driving outside the capital should be only during daylight hours. Most remote areas in the CAR that are frequented by tourists are accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles, although some roads are not passable at all during the rainy season, from May to October.

There are currently no distracted driving laws in effect in the Central African Republic, but police may pull over drivers who talk or text while driving for not following unspecific safe driving procedures.