Central African Republic

COUNTRY FLAG

COAT OF ARMS
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LOCATION MAP

AREA MAP
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INFORMATION

Capital: Bangui

Government: Semi-Presidential Republic

Current President: Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Economy:

  • Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy, with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas.
  • The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP.
  • Timber accounts for 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, 40%.

Population: 5,745,062 (2018)

Land Size: 622,984 sq km (240,535 sq miles)

Major Ethnic Groups:

  • Baya: 33%
  • Banda: 27%
  • Mandjia: 13%
  • Sara: 10%
  • Mboum: 7%
  • M’Baka: 4%
  • Yakoma: 4%
  • Other: 2%
 Religions:

  • Indigenous beliefs: 35%
  • Protestant: 25%
  • Roman Catholic: 25%
  • Muslim: 15%

Language(s):

  • French (official)
  • Sangho (lingua franca and national language)
  • Gbaya
  • Banda

Links:

RECENT NEWS

  • Fri - Aug 16, 2019: CAR's Peace Deal - Violated and Fragile - AllAfrica News: Central African Republic
    [Deutsche Welle] Six months after armed CAR rebels signed a peace deal with the government, some have flagrantly violated it, experts say, as citizens wonder why the warlords even have seats at the top table.
  • Wed - Aug 14, 2019: Strengthening Ties With Central African Republic - AllAfrica News: Central African Republic
    [SAnews.gov.za] Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela says South Africa will continue to strengthen the bond of friendship with the Central African Republic (CAR).
  • Sun - Aug 11, 2019: Musician Lends His Voice to Highlight Struggles Faced by His Country - AllAfrica News: Central African Republic
    [VOA] Ozaguin, considered the most popular singer-songwriter in the Central African Republic, recently came to the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva to awaken the world to the struggles faced by his country, which has been mired in civil war since 2012.
  • Fri - Aug 9, 2019: Nation Sees Sharp Decline in Violence - AllAfrica News: Central African Republic
    [Thomson Reuters Foundation] Dakar -Central African Republic may be getting safer, according to new figures from the United Nations that show a sharp drop in the number of attacks and human rights abuses since last year.
  • Thu - Jul 25, 2019: Fighting Stigma and Caring for Victims of Sexual Violence in Central African Republic - AllAfrica News: Central African Republic
    [MSF] Olga's voice trembles as she describes what happened: "Yesterday afternoon I left home to go and look for a bit of yucca in a field near the airport," she says. "On my way there, two men armed with machetes stopped me and told me to sit down. One covered my eyes and the other began to undress me."