The 1994 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Central African(s)

       adjective:

       Central African

       Ethnic divisions:

       Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%,

       Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)

       Religions:

       indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim

       15%, other 11%

       note:

       animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian

       majority

       Languages:

       French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),

       Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

       Literacy:

       age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

       total population:

       27%

       male:

       33%

       female:

       15%

       Labor force:

       775,413 (1986 est.)

       by occupation:

       agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%

       note:

       about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

      @Central African Republic, Government

      Names:

       conventional long form:

       Central African Republic

       conventional short form:

       none

       local long form:

       Republique Centrafricaine

       local short form:

       none

       former:

       Central African Empire

       Abbreviation:

       CAR

       Digraph:

       CT

       Type:

       republic; one-party presidential regime since 1986

       Capital:

       Bangui

       Administrative divisions:

       14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic

       prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture

       economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto,

       Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui,

       Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,

       Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga

       Independence:

       13 August 1960 (from France)

       National holiday:

       National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)

       Constitution:

       21 November 1986

       Legal system:

       based on French law

       Suffrage:

       21 years of age; universal

       Executive branch:

       chief of state:

       President Felix (Ange) PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) election last

       held 19 September 1993; PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel

       GOUMBA received 45.62%; next election schelduled for 1998

       head of government:

       Prime Minister Dr. Jean-Luc MANDABA (since 25 October 1993)

       cabinet:

       Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral

       National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):

       elections last held 19 September 1993; results - percentage vote by

       party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3,

       others 22

       note:

       the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council

       (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they are

       called the Congress (Congres)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the

       party of the new president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Central African

       Democratic Party (RDC), Laurent GOMINA-PAMPALI; Council of Moderates

       Coalition includes; Union of the People for Economic and Social

       Development (UPDS), Katossy SIMANI; Liberal Republican Party (PARELI),

       Augustin M'BOE; Central African Socialist Movement (MSCA), Michel

       BENGUE; Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD), a coalition of 13 parties,

       including; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Francois PEHOUA;

       Central African Republican party (PRC), Ruth ROLLAND; Social

       Democratic Party (PSD), Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE; Civic Forum (FC), Gen.

       Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor

       KOMBOT-NAGUEMON; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African

       People (MLPC), Felix (Ange) PATASSE

       Member of:

       ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,

       ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,

       NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

       Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador Henri KOBA

       chancery:

       1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

       telephone:

       (202) 483–7800 or 7801

       US diplomatic representation:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador Robert E. GRIBBIN

       embassy:

       Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

       mailing address:

       B. P. 924, Bangui

       telephone:

       [236] 61–02-00, 61–25-78, 61–43-33, 61–02-10

       FAX:

       [236] 61–44-94

       Flag:

       four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow

       with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed

       star on the hoist side of the blue band

      @Central African Republic, Economy

      Overview:

       Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, remains the backbone of

       the CAR economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the

       countryside.