Landlocked at the western end of the Sahel, the Central African Republic (CAR) is a low plateau stretching north from one of Africa's great rivers, the Ubangi, which forms its border with the DRC. Almost all the population lives in the equatorial, rainforested south. "Emperor" Bokassa's eccentric rule from 1965 to 1979 was followed by military dictatorship. Democracy was restored in 1993.

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 until 1993 (Presidents Dacko and Kolingba and "Emperor" Bokassa). President Patasse is from the interior. Resentment against the river peoples occasionally flares up, as happened after the coup attempt in 2001. Women, as in other non-Muslim African countries, have considerable power. Elizabeth Domitien was prime minister from 1975 to 1976 and Ruth Rolland ran for president in 1993.

Strengths

Self-sufficiency in food. Some diversity of export earnings (diamonds, cotton, timber, iron, coffee). Transit zone in central Africa. Trans-African Highway and waterways.

Weaknesses

Landlocked. Poor infrastructure. Not enough trained people to run economy.

Democratic elections in 1993 ended four years of Gen. Kolingba's single-party rule, bringing in Ange-Félix Patasse as president. Patasse was Bokassa's prime minister during the 1970s, but was jailed for dissent and subsequently went into exile. Army mutinies in 1996 prompted the formation of a government of national unity, but fighting continued, including an incident in Bangui when two French soldiers were killed. A French-led multinational force kept the peace from February 1997. It was replaced by a UN force (UNMICAR) in April 1998. Patasse's party, the MLPC, remained the most important in the new parliament after the 1998 elections but needs the support of opposition parties to maintain a workable coalition. In 2001 the government weathered a coup attempt and a military insurrection, with assistance from Libyan troops.

An improving image of political stability since 1996 was shattered by 2001. Libya emerged as the major ally of President Patasse, becoming directly involved in a series of coups and armed rebellions. Relations with Cameroon, which provides key access to the sea, were also threatened in heightened border tension in 2000. Financial help from France will be needed for some time.

The well-equipped 3000-strong army is a heavy drain on the budget. Military service is selective. French officers fill senior army posts. In 1996, 1400 resident French troops intervened to quell the army rebellions; the garrison began to withdraw in 1997. UNMICAR forces were deployed from 1997 to 2000. Gen. Francois Bozize led the military rebellion in 2001.

Cotton and diamonds are the CAR's major exports. Other minerals are potentially important.

There has been an attempt to impose a conservationist forest policy. Hunting of elephants was banned in 1985, as numbers had fallen from 80,000 in the mid-1970s to just over 13,000.

The CAR has a limited transportation system, depending on the river link to Brazzaville, Congo, and rail from there to Pointe-Noire and the Congo river ports.

Colonial neglect and postcolonial maladministration have resulted in a poorly developed health system.

Schooling, on the French model, is compulsory, but in practice is only received by 68% of 6–14 year olds.

Human rights abuses have been reduced dramatically since the excesses of the Bokassa years. The level of criminality is usually low. The major criminal problem appears to be the increase in urban robbery resulting from continued political instability from 1996.

There is a small political–military elite, which came into being only in postcolonial days. For its members Paris is the chosen destination and style leader.

Tourist promotion is small-scale, but since 1979 there has been a modest increase in national park safaris. A new runway in Bangui will permit air charters, chiefly from France.

The French established the colony of Ubangi-Chari in 1905 and gave it autonomy as the CAR in 1958.

• 1960 Independence under David Dacko; one-party state.
• 1965 Coup by Jean-Bédel Bokassa.
• 1977 Bokassa crowned "emperor."
• 1979 French help reinstate Dacko.
• 1981 Gen. Kolingba ousts Dacko.
• 1996 Government of national unity formed following army rebellion.
• 2001 Coup attempt. Army rebellion.