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Central African Republic
Physical. The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation located in Central
Africa, south of Chad and Sudan and north of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. It covers an area slightly smaller than Texas. The country’s climate is
tropical with hot, dry winters and mild to hot, wet summers. The terrain
consists of vast, flat to rolling plateaus with scattered hills in the northeast
and southwest. Some of its rich natural resources include diamonds, uranium,
timber, gold, oil and hydropower.
People. The Central African Republic is home to more than 3.6 million people.
French is the official language while Songo, Arabic, Hunsa, and Swahili are
spoken as well. The Songo language generally unites CAR’s population although it
has traditionally been divided between the river peoples and savanna peoples.
The ethnic groups within the country include the following: Baya (34%), Banda
(27%), Mandjia (21%), Sara (10%), and other (8%). There are four major
religions: Protestant (25%) Roman Catholic (25%) indigenous beliefs (35%) and
Muslim (15%).
Government. In March 2003, with President Angé-Felix Patassé out of the country,
rebels seized control of the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). This
was another coup in a series of attempts that have plagued the country since the
mid-1990. Since gaining independence, the political, economic and military
presence of France has remained pervasive. In addition, the country has lacked a
leadership committed to national development rather than internationally
sanctioned waste.
Economy. Without port access, CAR’s land-locked economy is limited by high
transportation costs. At the same time, ivory poaching and smuggling by corrupt
officials, among others, as well as governmentally approved but environmentally
destructive logging methods have dominated. Farmers have overcome recurrent
drought, poor infrastructure and inefficient official marketing to, in general,
meet the country’s basic food needs. The financial interventions of the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and France have significantly
increased the country ’s debt burden.
Areas of Concern. The lack of a potable water supply, desertification,
deforestation and poaching of animals (threatening its reputation as one of the
last great wildlife refuges) are the country's largest environmental concerns.
Military rebellions and social unrest for three decades have had a profound
effect. AIDS is a serious health problem with 13.84% of the country currently
living with HIV/AIDS. The government of the CAR is fairly unstable since the
military coup in 2003.
Central African Republic statistics
Geography
Area: 240,324 square miles
Capital: Bangui (pop 666,000)
Environmental concerns: poaching; desertification; deforestation; potable water
Geographical features: vast flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills
in the northeast and southwest; landlocked
Climate: tropical
People
3,643,000 people; 34% Baya; 27% Banda; 21% Mandja; 10% Sara
Annual growth rate: 1.8%
Major languages are French; Songo; Arabic; Hunsa; Swahili
Religions: indigenous beliefs (35%); Protestant (25%); Roman Catholic (25%);
Muslim (15%),
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 42 years; women, 45 years
Infant mortality: 103.8 deaths per 1000 live births
More than 50 % of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 18,660 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: 13.84%
60% of adults are literate
Compulsory education 6-14 years
Communication and transportation
10,000 main telephone lines
6000 Internet users (2004)
14,286 miles of highway
no railroads
51 airfields
20,000 motor vehicles
Government
The Central African Republic is a republic that gained its independence on
August 13, 1960
President Angé-Feliz Patassé is head of state
3 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 21
Military
Military expenditures are 2.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: internal strife
Economy
Currency: francs
Per capita GDP: $1,300
GDP: $4.6 billion
GDP growth rate: 1.8%
Inflation rate: 3.6%
Labor force: agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%
Resources and industry
Natural resources: diamonds; uranium; timber; gold; petroleum; hydropower
Agriculture: cotton; coffee; tobacco, manioc; millet; corn; bananas; timber
Industry: diamond mining; sawmills; breweries; textiles; footwear; assembly of
bicycles and motorcycles
Exports: $166 million
Imports: $154 million
Suggested web sites
www.sas.upenn.edu
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