The Central African Republic can be found in the Western part of Africa. The country ruled under a French colony in the 19th century gained independence in 1960.
Boarded by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Cameroon, the country, as of 2016, has an estimated population of 4.6 million.
The Central African Republic has gone through a number of autocratic leaders which has caused instability in that part of West Africa. Its first multi democratic elections in 1993 saw the introduction of Ange-Felix Patasse as president, however, he was removed later by General Francois Bozize in a 2003 coup. The bush war began in 2004 and despite every attempt by a peace treaty in 2007 and another in 2011, the civil war resumed in 2012.
Despite the fight for supremacy and power, the Central African Republic has a significant mineral deposit, including uranium reserves, crude oil, cobalt, lumber, hydro-power, and large arable land.
According to statistics, the Central African Republic has a dominant traditional beliefs system – Christianity and Islam follow closely. It is known to have the second-largest rainforest in the world which is located in the South-Western part of the country. With the Dzanga-Sangha National Park, renowned for its rainforests and multitude of species of animals and birds, the Central African Republic is definitely a place to be.
Below are some facts you probably didn’t know about the Central African Republic:
