ocr: Although the Baya and the Banda are the largest ethnic groups, the "lingua franca" is Sango. This is spoken by the southern riverine minorities, who provided the political leaders from independence (Fresidents Dacko and Kolingba and Emperor Bokassa), until President Patasse, who comes from the interior. Kesentment against the river peoples occasionally tlares up, but ethnic diversity minimizes polarization. Women, as 111 other non-Muslim African countries, have considerable power. Elizabeth Domitien was prime minister from 1975-1976and Ruth Rolland ran for president in 1993.
