Landlocked in the heart of Africa, the Central African Republic (CAR) is a sparsely populated country with an area of 623,000 km2. It is one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world despite its abundant natural resources (470 mineral occurrences, with oil, gold and diamonds having the greatest potential).
CAR is located in Central Africa in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth. The country is half the size of France or slightly smaller than Texas, with an area of just over 620,000 sq. km (239,000 sq. miles). Six countries border CAR. These are Chad, Sudan, and South Sudan to the north, northeast, and southeast respectively. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo, and Cameroon bound CAR to the south, southwest, and west respectively.
The area that is now the Central African Republic has been settled for at least 8,000 years. The earliest inhabitants were the probable ancestors of today’s Aka (Pygmy) peoples, who live in the western and southern forested regions of the country. The Islamic state of Dar al-Kuti occupied the northern reaches until the various regions of the Central African Republic were brought under French colonial rule late in the 19th century. Colonial administrators favoured some ethnic groups over others, resulting in political rivalries that persisted after independence in 1960.
Following periods of civil strife and dictatorial government, including the infamous regime of the self-styled Emperor Bokassa I (who renamed the country the Central African Empire), the country embarked on a course of democracy that was threatened, at the end of the 20th century, by interethnic civil war in neighbouring countries as well as by attempted coups d’état.
The capital city of Bangui, founded as a French trading post in 1889, sprawls on the banks of the Ubangi River. Famed in colonial times as one of the most agreeable cities in equatorial Africa, Bangui blends wooded hills and grassy meadows with heavily populated shantytowns, a handsome if now somewhat run-down city centre, and modern residential districts. Though strikes and curfews often bring the city to a standstill, Bangui enjoys a vibrant nightlife and a diverse musical culture.
With 3.7 million people, the Central African Republic is a multilingual nation. The majority of languages are in the phylum Niger-Congo. Urban regions are often multilingual, whereas rural areas are essentially monolingual. The predominant ethnic group’s language is used. The previous several decades have seen a rise in communication between rural and urban communities. Consequently, multilingualism is more common in rural settings. The media, educational institutions, and the executive branch all utilize French as their official language. French and the other languages spoken in Central Africa are gradually being replaced by Sango, the other official language.
Agriculture is the largest sector and the basis of the Central African economy, contributing half of the gross domestic product and occupying nearly four-fifths of the workforce; diamonds and timber also contribute to the economy. International (mostly French) capital dominates the economy, but the Central African Republic has tried since independence to attract capital and development monies from other countries, including Libya, Taiwan, China, Germany, and Japan.
The second-largest rainforest in the world is located in the Congo. It crosses six nations: Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and Central African Republic. With its astounding variety, the nation is home to unique and uncommon animals including cheetahs, lions, rhinos, gorillas, elephants, and hippos. There are also about 600 known species of butterflies that call it home.
There are 33 parkland protected areas and five national parks in the Central African Republic. It used to have the third-largest rainforest cover in Africa, but deforestation has severely damaged it. The nation’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site that is fully contained inside its borders is the Manovo-Goundo St Floris National Park. Red-fronted gazelles, buffalo, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and ducks may all be found in its enormous savannahs.
