Chief
of State: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March
2003 coup)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005) note - Celestin GAOMBALET
resigned 11 June 2005
Government Type: republic |
Population:
4,303,356
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
and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex
than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Languages: French (official),
Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Religion: indigenous beliefs
35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence
the Christian majority
Life Expectancy: 43.54 |
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African
States
GDP(per capita): $1,100 (2005
est.)
Overview: Subsistence agriculture,
together with forestry, remains the backbone of the
economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with
more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas.
The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber
has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the
diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to
economic development include the CAR's landlocked position,
a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work
force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies.
Factional fighting between the government and its opponents
remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP
growth at only 0.5% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005. Distribution
of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France
and the international community can only partially meet
humanitarian needs.
Exports: diamonds, timber,
cotton, coffee, tobacco
Import: food, textiles, petroleum
products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
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Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area: total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
Background:
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the
Central African Republic upon independence in 1960.
After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by
military governments - civilian rule was established
in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix
PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest,
and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup
led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional
government. Though the government has the tacit support
of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide
field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative,
and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president.
The government still does not fully control the countryside,
where pockets of lawlessness persist.
Independence Day: 13 August
1960 (from France)
Capital City: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 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 |
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