The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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; formerly Central African Empire)

       Constitution:

       21 November 1986

       Legal system:

       based on French law

       National holiday:

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

       Executive branch:

       president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) advised by the Economic

       and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit

       together this is known as the Congress (Congres)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

       Leaders:

       Chief of State::

       President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)

       Head of Government::

       Prime Minister Edouard FRANCK (since 15 March 1991)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Centrafrican Democratic Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA; note -

       as part of political reforms leading to a democratic system announced in

       April 1991, 18 opposition parties have been legalized

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 21

       Elections:

       National Assembly:

       last held 31 July 1987 (next to be held by end of 1992); results - RDC is

       the only party; seats - (52 total) RDC 52

       President:

       last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held by end of 1992); results -

       President KOLINGBA was reelected without opposition

       Communists:

       small number of Communist sympathizers

       Member of:

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

       ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,

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

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET; Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW,

       Washington, DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 7801

       US:

       Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President David Dacko,

       Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui); telephone 61-02-00, 61-25-78,

       or 61-43-33; FAX [190] [phone]

      :Central African Republic Government

      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, is the backbone of the CAR

       economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the countryside. In

       1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP. Agricultural

       products accounted for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry

       for 30%. The country's 1991 budget deficit was US $70 million and in 1992 is

       expected to be about the same. Important constraints to economic development

       include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, and a

       weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance,

       particularly from France, plays a major role in providing capital for new

       investment.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate -

       3.0% (1990 est.)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       -3.0% (1990 est.)

       Unemployment rate:

       30% in Bangui (1988 est.)

       Budget:

       revenues $121 million; expenditures $193 million, including capital

       expenditures of $NA million (1991 est.)

       Exports:

       $151.3 million (1990 est.)

       commodities:

       diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco

       partners:

       France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

       Imports:

       $214.5 million (1990 est.)

       commodities:

       food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor

       vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products

       partners:

       France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

       External debt:

       $700 million (1990 est.)

       Industrial production:

       0.8% (1988); accounts for 12% of GDP

       Electricity:

       40,000 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)

       Industries:

       diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of

       bicycles and motorcycles

       Agriculture:

       accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for

       grain; commercial crops - cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops -

       manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas

       Economic aid:

       US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million; Western (non-US)

       countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC

       bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $38

       million

       Currency:

       Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF)

       = 100 centimes

       Exchange rates:

       Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January

       1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54

       (1987)

      :Central African Republic Economy

      Fiscal year: calendar year

      :Central African Republic Communications

      Highways: