Central African Republic
The Central african Republic is a landlocked country in central africa. It is bordered to the north by Chad, bordered to the east by Sudan, to the south by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the south west by the republic of Congo and to the west by Cameroon.
Total Area:622,984 sq km
Land Borders: Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Sudan
Population: 4,303,356
Life Expectancy: 44 years
HIV % Total Poulation:13.5%
Ethnic Groups: Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Languages:French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
President:Francois BOZIZE
GDP - Per Capita: $1,100
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.