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 |
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 |