Country Information on the Central African Republic

Terrain The country is located along the northern fringe of the Congo Basin. The country is mostly a flat highland plateau at around 600 m above sea level. In the south dense tropical forests cover the country, whereas to the north, drier climatic conditions prevail, and vegetation turns into savannah. The Sahel Desert zone can be found even further north. The Bongo Massif near the border with Sudan rises to 1330 m and the Yadé Massif along the Cameroon border rises to 1420 m (Mount Kayagangiri, the country's highest elevation. Two big rivers (the Shari in the north and the Oubangui River, a tributary of the Congo, in the south) drain the Central African Republic. Climate Highest temperatures are reached in the north, where they can climb to 40°C between February and May, and the humidity can be oppressive. The rainy season lasts six months in the south of the country (May to October), diminishing progressively to four months (June to September) as you head north. Fauna/Flora The Central African Republic is renowned for its population of forest elephants, slightly smaller and with straighter tusks than their plains cousins. 10% of the country has meanwhile been turned into natural reserves, e.g. the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park in the north-east, the smaller St Floris National Park further east, and the recently created Dzanga-Ndoki Park and the surrounding Dzanga-Sangha Reserve in the south. History/Politics By 1600, slavery was quite common and villages were continually raided by Arab conquerors from Chad and Sudan, and via the coast by European slavers. Whole villages in the north were depopulated, and people were sold in Cairo slave markets until the late 19th century. Hence, the Central African Republic today is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. In the 1880s the French annexed the area and in 1894 declared it a protectorate. In 1910 the colony became part of the Federation of French Equatorial Africa. However, the economic development was controlled by Europe, which led to exploitation of black Africans. In 1920 they revolted against their oppressors. Resistance to French rule faded in the late 1920s under the combined weight of repression, famine, and smallpox epidemics, and eventually by French troops. During WWII, cotton and diamond exports reached record levels, and the colony had become a favourite ground for adventurers. In 1949 Barthelemy Boganda founded the first political party, the Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN), calling for independence. Boganda died in a mysterious plane crash in 1959 and his successor, David Dacko, became the country's first president. In 1965 Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the army's commander in chief, led a successful coup. Bokassa crowned himself emperor Bokassa I in 1977. Corruption and political repression led to a civil uprising in 1979. Bokassa had to flee the country and went into exile. Although republican government was again proclaimed in 1979, corruption still dominated domestic politics and led to another coup in 1981, led by General Kolingba. Kolingba suspended the constitution and a Military Committee for National Reconstruction assumed power. A new constitution establishing a one-party system was adopted in 1986. However, Kolingba was forced to introduce a multiparty system in 1992. First free elections were held in 1992, but the results were annulled. A transition government was formed in May 1993 and Ange Patessé (who is still in office) was elected president two months later. Economy More than 70% of the population find employment in subsistence agriculture and forestry. Timber accounts for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the Central African Republic's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected economic policies established during consecutive dictatorships. The 100% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the Central African Republic's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading to an estimated rise of the gross domestic product to 7% in 1994 and by nearly 5% in 1995. However, this economic success was again destroyed when social unrest broke out the following year. Instable political conditions remained the main factor contributing to the country's grave economic condition in the years to follow. Culture Music is given a great importance in the Central African Republic. Each ethnic group has developed its own musical style and plays its typical instruments. Drum rhythms are essential on certain occasions. The log xylophone is one of the most common instruments, and it consists of two long banana tree trunks supporting about five logs that are struck with sticks. The tiny sanza or thumb piano consists of a soundbox of wood with bamboo or metal keys played with the thumbs. Pygmies have their own music and instruments, which can be heard on traditional occasions.