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Central African Republic Government

What is the capital of Central African Republic?

Country Name None
Full Country Name Central African Republic
Abbreviation CAR
Local - Long Republique Centrafricaine
Local - Short None
Former Name Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
Etymology- history of name Self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
Government Type Presidential republic
Capital Name Bangui
Capital - geographic coordinate 4 22 N, 18 35 E
Capital Time Difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence 13 August 1960 (from France)
National Holiday Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution History: several previous; latest (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016

Amendments: proposals require the 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

Central African Republic Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Central African Republic Government and Politics

Who is the president of Central African Republic?

Executive Branch: Chief of State: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Firmin NGREBADA (since 25 February 2019)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections/Appointments: under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); an election was last held on 30 December 2015 with a runoff on 20 February 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

Election Results: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA was elected president in the second round; percent of the vote in the 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 the vote in the second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3%

Note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015, when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016
Citizenship Criteria: Citizenship by Birth: no

Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic

Dual Citizenship Recognized: yes

Residency Requirement for Naturalization: 35 years
Legal System: Civil law system based on the French model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legislative Branch: Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

Elections: last held 30 December 2015 (results annulled), 14 February 2016 - first round, and 31 March 2016 - second round (next to be held in 2021)

Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition - men 129, women 11, percent of women 7.9%
Judicial Branch: Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women)

Judge Selection and Term of Office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms

Subordinate Courts: high courts; magistrates' courts
Regions or States: 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
Political Parties and Leaders: Action Party for Development or PAD

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]

Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA]

Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH]

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE]

National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]

National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL]

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

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]
International Law Organization Participation: Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International Organization Participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic Representation in the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lydie Flore Honorine MAGBA (since 29 July 2016)

Chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009

Telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800

FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic Representation from US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David P. BROWNSTEIN (since September 2017)

Embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 924, Bangui

Telephone: [236] 21 61 0200

FAX: [236] 21 61 4494
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