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- Government
-
- Long-form name: Central African Republic (no short-form name);
- abbreviated CAR.
-
- Type: republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986.
-
- Capital: Bangui.
-
- Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular--
- prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques,
- singular--prefecture economique); Bamingui-Bangoran, Basse-Kotto,
- Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui,
- Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,
- Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new autonomous
- commune of Bangui.
-
- 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, Council of Ministers (cabinet).
-
- Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of an upper
- house or Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique
- et Regional) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee
- Nationale).
-
- Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme).
-
- Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President
- Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981).
-
- Political parties and leaders: only party--Centrafrican
- Democrtic Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne Kolingba.
-
- Suffrage: universal at age 21.
-
- Elections:
-
- President--last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held November
- 1993); results--President Kolingba was reelected without
- opposition;
-
- National Assembly--last held 31 July 1987 (next to be held
- July 1992); results--RDC is the only party; seats--(total)
- RDC 52.
-
- Communists: small number of Communist sympathizers.
-
- Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, Conference of East and Central
- African States, EAMA, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
- ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM,
- OAU, OCAM, UDEAC, UEAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO.
-
- Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET;
- Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
- (202) 483-7800 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 or 61-25-78,
- 61-43-33.
-
- 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.
-