The Central African Republic (CAR) (French: République
centrafricaine, pronounced: [ʁepyblik sɑ̃tʁafʁikɛn], or Centrafrique
[sɑ̃tʀafʀik]; Sango Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka), is a landlocked country in
Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the east, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the
south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about
240,000 square miles (623,000 km²), and has an estimated population of
about 4.4 million as of 2008. Bangui is the capital city.
Most of the CAR consists of Sudano-Guinean savannas
but it also includes a Sahelo-Sudanian zone in the north and an
equatorial forest zone in the south. Two thirds of the country lies in
the basins of the Ubangi River, which flows south into the Congo River,
while the remaining third lies in the basin of the Chari River, which
flows north into Lake Chad.
Since most of the territory is located in the Ubangi
and Shari river basins, France called the colony it carved out in this
region Ubangi-Chari, or Oubangui-Chari in French. It became a
semi-autonomous territory of the French Community in 1958 and then an
independent nation on 13 August 1960. For over three decades after
independence, the CAR was ruled by presidents who were not chosen in
multi-party democratic elections or took power by force. Local
discontent with this system was eventually reinforced by international
pressure, following the end of the Cold War.
The first multi-party democratic elections were held
in 1993 with resources provided by the country's donors and help from
the UN Office for Electoral Affairs, and brought Ange-Félix Patassé to
power. He lost popular support during his presidency and was overthrown
in 2003 by French-backed General François Bozizé, who went on to win a
democratic election in May 2005. Inability to pay workers in the public
sector led to strikes in 2007, forcing the resignation of the government
in early 2008. A new Prime Minister, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was
named on 22 January 2008.
The Central African Republic is one of the poorest
countries in the world and among the ten poorest countries in Africa.
The Human Development Index for the Central African Republic is 0.369,
which gives the country a rank of 179 out of 182 countries with data.
Geography
The
Central African Republic is a land-locked nation within the interior of
the African continent. It is bordered by the countries of Cameroon,
Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of
the Congo. The country lies between latitudes 2° and 11°N, and
longitudes 14° and 28°E.
Much of the Central African Republic consists of flat, or rolling plateau savanna, typically about 500 metres (1,640 ft) above sea level, of which most of the northern half lies within the World Wildlife Fund's East Sudanian savanna ecoregion. In the northeast are the Fertit Hills, and there are scattered hills in southwest part of the country. To the northwest is the Yade Massif, a granite plateau with an altitude of 1,143 feet (348 m).
At 622,941 square kilometres (240,519 sq mi), the Central African Republic is the world's 42nd-largest country. It is comparable in size to the Ukraine, and is somewhat smaller than the US state of Texas.
Much of the southern border is formed by tributaries of the Congo River, with the Mbomou River in the east merging with the Uele River to form the Ubangi River. In the west, the Sangha River flows through part of the country. The eastern border lies along the edge of the Nile river watershed.
Estimates of the amount of the country covered by forest ranges up to 8%, with the densest parts in the south. The forest is highly diverse, and includes commercially important species of Ayous, Sapelli and Sipo.The deforestation rate is 0.4% per annum, and lumber poaching is commonplace. In the November 2008 issue of National Geographic, the Central African Republic was named the country least affected by light pollution.
Climate
The climate of the C.A.R. is generally tropical. The northern areas are subject to harmattan winds, which are hot, dry, and carry dust. The northern regions have been subject to desertification, and the northeast is a desert. The remainder of the country is prone to flooding from nearby rivers.
Demographics
The population has almost quadrupled since independence. In 1960 the population was 1,232,000. Now the population is 4,422,000. (2009 UN est.) Note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 11% of the population aged 15 – 49 is HIV positive.Only 3% of the country has antiretroviral therapy available, compared to 17% coverage in neighbouring countries of Chad and the Republic of the Congo.
The nation is divided into over 80 ethnic groups, each having its own language. The largest ethnic groups are the Baya (33%), Banda (28%), Mandjia (7%), Sara (10%), Mboum (7%), M'Baka (4%), Yakoma (4%), and Fulani (3%), with others constituting 4%, including Europeans of mostly French descent.[citation needed]
Religion
There are many missionary groups operating in the country, including Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. While these missionaries are predominantly from the United States, France, Italy, and Spain, many are also from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other African countries. Many missionaries left the country due to fighting between rebel and government forces in 2002 and 2003. Many have now returned to the country and resumed their activities.
Education
Public education in the Central African Republic is free, and education is compulsory from ages 6 to 14.About half the adult population of the country is illiterate.The University of Bangui, a public university located in Bangui, is the only institution of higher education in the Central African Republic.
Much of the Central African Republic consists of flat, or rolling plateau savanna, typically about 500 metres (1,640 ft) above sea level, of which most of the northern half lies within the World Wildlife Fund's East Sudanian savanna ecoregion. In the northeast are the Fertit Hills, and there are scattered hills in southwest part of the country. To the northwest is the Yade Massif, a granite plateau with an altitude of 1,143 feet (348 m).
At 622,941 square kilometres (240,519 sq mi), the Central African Republic is the world's 42nd-largest country. It is comparable in size to the Ukraine, and is somewhat smaller than the US state of Texas.
Much of the southern border is formed by tributaries of the Congo River, with the Mbomou River in the east merging with the Uele River to form the Ubangi River. In the west, the Sangha River flows through part of the country. The eastern border lies along the edge of the Nile river watershed.
Estimates of the amount of the country covered by forest ranges up to 8%, with the densest parts in the south. The forest is highly diverse, and includes commercially important species of Ayous, Sapelli and Sipo.The deforestation rate is 0.4% per annum, and lumber poaching is commonplace. In the November 2008 issue of National Geographic, the Central African Republic was named the country least affected by light pollution.
Climate
The climate of the C.A.R. is generally tropical. The northern areas are subject to harmattan winds, which are hot, dry, and carry dust. The northern regions have been subject to desertification, and the northeast is a desert. The remainder of the country is prone to flooding from nearby rivers.
Demographics
The population has almost quadrupled since independence. In 1960 the population was 1,232,000. Now the population is 4,422,000. (2009 UN est.) Note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 11% of the population aged 15 – 49 is HIV positive.Only 3% of the country has antiretroviral therapy available, compared to 17% coverage in neighbouring countries of Chad and the Republic of the Congo.
The nation is divided into over 80 ethnic groups, each having its own language. The largest ethnic groups are the Baya (33%), Banda (28%), Mandjia (7%), Sara (10%), Mboum (7%), M'Baka (4%), Yakoma (4%), and Fulani (3%), with others constituting 4%, including Europeans of mostly French descent.[citation needed]
Religion
There are many missionary groups operating in the country, including Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. While these missionaries are predominantly from the United States, France, Italy, and Spain, many are also from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other African countries. Many missionaries left the country due to fighting between rebel and government forces in 2002 and 2003. Many have now returned to the country and resumed their activities.
Education
Public education in the Central African Republic is free, and education is compulsory from ages 6 to 14.About half the adult population of the country is illiterate.The University of Bangui, a public university located in Bangui, is the only institution of higher education in the Central African Republic.
Miss Central African Republic 2012:
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