The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in central Africa. The capital city is Bangui. It lies at River Ubangi banks and was established as a French trading post. Bangui connects the wooded hills and grassy fields.
The first inhabitants would be the Aka (Pygmy) people who today live at the forested regions at the east and west of the country.
Boats moored along the banks of the Chari River.
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Dar al-Kuti region at the northern was known for slavery until the French colonisers came in in the 1880s. The French rulers favoured some ethnic groups over others, which caused political rivalries.
The African Republic gained its independence in 1960. The first president was David Dacko who made the country a one party state. In 1965, Jean-Bedel Bokassa expeled president Dacko and made himself the emperor of Central African Empire. In 1979, French troops forced president Bokassa out of leadership. In 1981, Army commander Andre Kolingba took over power. In 1993, Ane Felix Patasse won as president during elections. In 2003, former army commander Francois Bozize seized power again.
In 2009, there were collisions between government and rebels due to which the UN Security Council intervened and created a UN peace building council office to address the instability and insecurity.
In 2013, there were chaos when Muslims and Christians were accused of murdering people. In 2014, Seleka coalition head Michael Djotodia stepped down and president Catherine Samba Panza took over. In 2015, there was a constitution change that was followed by first round presidential polls that were repeated in 2016, and Faustin Archange Touadera won.
The country practices subsistence agriculture and forestry. The top exports are rough and sawn wood diamonds and raw cotton.
The official language is French and the largest religion is Christianity.
The national meal is staples like rice and fufu (fermented cassava).
The country is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the north and South Sudan to the northeast, DRC to the south, Republic of Congo to southwest, Cameroon to the west.
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