International Security Bulletin

Central African Republic

Central African Republic

Capital: Bangui

The Central African Republic Bulletin

Weekly Brief: October 5, 2015

Top Story Russia began airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday. America’s Secretary of State John Kerry said that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad should leave power, but Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Assad should meet with the Syrian opposition to discuss a settlement to the conflict. Though Russia claimed to target the Islamic State of Iraq and the […]

Weekly Brief: May 4, 2015

Top Story Representatives from around the world traveled to New York this week to begin the ninth review conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Review conferences have been held every five years since the NPT entered into effect in 1970. American Secretary of State John Kerry, who will lead his country’s […]

History

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. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group the Lord's Resistance Army continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - who are unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reappointed Nicolas TIANGAYE as Prime Minister, and established a transitional government on 31 March. On 13 April 2013, the National Transitional Council affirmed DJOTODIA as President.

Geography

Metric Units

Total Area 622,984 sq km
Land Boundaries 5,203 km
Border Countries Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, South Sudan 990 km, Sudan 175 km
Coastline 0 km
Terrain vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Minimum Elevation 335 m
Maximum Elevation 1,420 m
Climate tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Natural Resources diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Arable Land 2.89%
Permanent Crops 0.13%

Economy

Gross Domestic Product $3.85 billion
GDP (per capita) $800
GDP Growth 4.1%
Unemployment Rate 8%
Population in Poverty No data%
GINI Index 61.3

Budget & Debt

Expenditures $352.2 million
Revenue $335.1 million
Current Account Balance $-179.5 million
External Debt $469.5 million

Trade

Exports $198.5 million
Export Items diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
Export Partners Belgium 30.4%, China 17.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7.9%, France 7.1%, Indonesia 6.3%, Morocco 5.3% (2011)
Imports $341.2 million
Import Items food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Import Partners South Korea 45.8%, Netherlands 8.8%, France 7.2%, Cameroon 5.1% (2011)

People

Population 5,166,510
Population Growth 2.14%
Ethnic Groups Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religion indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
Life Expectancy 50.9 years
Infant Mortality 0.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality 2.5 deaths/100,000 live births

Energy

Electricity Production 160 million kWh
Electricity Consumption 148.8 million kWh
From Fossil Fuels 45.7%
From Nuclear 0%
From Hydroelectric 54.3%
From Renewable Sources 0%