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Central African Republic:
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Other pages in this profile of the Central African Republic:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in neighboring nations, Chad, Sudan, and the DRC, continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well. |
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Location |
Definition Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 7 00 N, 21 00 E |
Map references |
Definition Africa |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly smaller than Texas |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km |
Coastline |
Definition 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims |
Definition none (landlocked) |
Climate |
Definition tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers |
Terrain |
Definition vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m |
Natural resources |
Definition diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 20 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 144.4 cu km (2003) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%) per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common |
Environment - current issues |
Definition tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note |
Definition landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |