- Flag of the Central African Republic
Located in the heart of Africa, Central African Republic is one of the most remote countries on the continent. It is known for its music and dance and is home to many national parks and wildlife reserves. Bangui, the capital, is on the southern boundary formed by the Ubangi River. GeographyThe Central African Republic has an area of 240,324 square miles (622,440 square kilometers). The country is landlocked, meaning that it is surrounded by land and has no coastline. It is bounded by Chad to the north, The Sudan to the north and east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo to the south, and Cameroon to the west. The northern part of the country is drained by tributaries of the Chari River, which flows into Lake Chad, and the southern part by the Ubangi. Most of the country occupies a vast rolling plateau, but this rises to mountains in the north, northeast, and west of the country. The Central African Republic has a tropical climate. During the rainy season (from March to October or November) heavy rainstorms occur almost daily. During this season the daily temperature ranges between 66 and 86° F (19 and 30° C). The northeastern trade winds, called the harmattan, bring on the dry season from October to February or March. The air is dry, and temperatures range between 64 and 104° F (18 and 40° C). Plants and animalsThe Central African Republic lies largely in the savanna region of Africa. A savanna is a tropical grassland with scattered trees. The variety of vegetation there includes drought- and fire-resistant trees. Many species of antelope, as well as baboons, buffalo, and elephants, live in the savanna. The once-numerous black rhinoceros is also found there, though this species has been overhunted and is now rare. The southern half of the country is densely forested. Lush rain forests are home to a variety of wild animals, including gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and the endangered bongo. The rivers have different species of fish as well as crocodiles and hippopotamuses. A large variety of birds—along with snakes, bats, insects, colorful butterflies, and moths—makes this region distinctive. People and cultureMost of the population of the Central African Republic lives in the southern and western parts of the country. Only about 40 percent of the people live in cities. Some 42 percent of the population practices some form of Christianity, 24 percent practices traditional African religions, and 15 percent are Muslim. The official languages of the country are French and Sango, a Sudanic language. French is used in the schools. There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the Central African Republic, however, and most people know little French. EconomyFarming is the major economic activity of the people, with both men and women tending the farms. Most crops are grown to feed the country's own people. These crops include cassava, corn (maize), millet, sorghum, peanuts (groundnuts), yams, and bananas. Crops grown to be sold include cotton, coffee, and tobacco. Diamonds and gold are the only minerals that the country produces and exports, though deposits of uranium, iron ore, manganese, and copper also exist. Timber is also sold to other countries. Imports include food products, chemicals, machinery and transportation equipment, and energy products. The country has little industry. HistoryThe region of Central African Republic has been inhabited for thousands of years. Several European countries tried to gain control of the area in the 19th century. The French eventually established Bangui in 1889, and the area was united with Chad in 1906 to form the French colony of Ubangi-Shari-Chad. In 1910, it became part of French Equatorial Africa, together with Chad, Congo, and Gabon. In 1960, the country declared independence, with David Dacko as its first president. The Central African Republic did not prosper under Dacko, however. Army Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa overthrew Dacko and declared himself president in 1966. Bokassa was a harsh ruler, and with the help of France, Dacko returned to power in 1979. Dacko was ousted by General André Kolingba in 1981. In 1993 the country held the first democratic elections in its history, and Ange-Félix Patassé was named president. Since then, the country has experienced several coup attempts and an army mutiny that brought Bangui to a standstill. Unrest continued into the 21st century. Population (2000 estimate), 3,513,000 |