Central+African+Republic

Overview

Statistics Nationality: //Noun and adjective//--Central African(s). Population (July 2007 est.): 4,369,038. Annual growth rate (2007 est.): 1.505%. Ethnic groups: More than 80; Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandja 13%, Mboum 7%, M'baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%. Religions: Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, indigenous beliefs 35%. Languages: French (official), Sangho (national). Education: //Years compulsory//--6. //Enrollment//--primary school 55% (2007 est.). //Literacy//--48.6% (2006 est.). Health: //Infant mortality rate//--176 deaths/1,000 (2006 est.). //Life expectancy//--44 yrs. (2006 est.). Work force (approx. 53% of pop.): //Agriculture//--75%; //industry//--6%; //commerce and services//--4%; //government//--15%. GDP: purchasing power parity: $4.784 billion (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (2005 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity: 1,100 (2005 est.) - Maddy Esteb
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic.svg/125px-Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic.svg.png width="125" height="83" caption="Flag of the Central African Republic" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic.svg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Central-african-republic_hi_res_ds.png/85px-Central-african-republic_hi_res_ds.png width="85" height="85" caption="Coat of arms of the Central African Republic" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Central-african-republic_hi_res_ds.png"]] ||

Geography Situated about 500 mi (805 km) north of the equator, the Central African Republic is a landlocked nation bordered by Cameroon, Chad, the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Congo. The Ubangi and the Shari are the largest of many rivers. Jason Brown

History The [|Central African Republic] is believed to have been settled from at least the 7th century on by overlapping empires, including the [|Kanem-Bornu], [|Ouaddai], [|Baguirmi], and Dafour groups based around [|Lake Chad] region and along [|Upper Nile].

1885 - French control
In 1875 the [|Sudanese] sultan [|Rabih az-Zubayr] governed Upper-Oubangui, which included present-day C.A.R. Europeans, primarily the French, [|German], and [|Belgians], arrived in the area in 1885.

1940 - 1958 - Independence
In August 1940, the territory responded, with the rest of the A.E.F., to the call from General [|Charles de Gaulle] to fight for [|Free France]. In 1946, all A.E.F. inhabitants were granted French citizenship and allowed to establish local assemblies. Jason Brown

Government Type: Republic. Independence: August 13, 1960. Constitution: Passed by referendum December 29, 1994; adopted January 1995. Suspended by decree in March 2003. New constitution passed by referendum December 5, 2004. Administrative subdivisions: 16 prefectures, commune of Bangui. Political parties: Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Central African Democratic Assembly (RDC), Civic Forum (FC), Democratic Forum (FODEM), Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP), People's Union for the Republic (UPR), National Unity Party (PUN), and Social Democratic Party (PSD). - Maddy Esteb

Religion Religions: Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, indigenous beliefs 35%. - Maddy Esteb

Culture **CULTURE** Africans generally place great emphasis on clothing, and a trip to the CAR is a treat to see the quality of people's dress. Women often wear a loose top and a length of cloth (pagne) around the waist as a skirt. Men's casual clothes - which look like pyjamas - are in the same distinctively 'African' designs, but most of the cloth is imported from the Netherlands. The most authentic cloths are the handmade, designed fabrics, such as woodblock prints and batiks and tie-dyed cloths. Dress is normally conservative and shorts are frowned upon. French is the official language, but Sango is the national language and is widely used on radio and in official situations. .In the villages and in African-style homes in the larger towns, people eat with their hands, although visitors will normally be offered a spoon. Always use your right hand, as the left is reserved for the toilet; you will cause significant offence if you do not observe this rule. The best African food you'll find will be in someone's home, but the second best is often on the streets. Generally, the more varied the ingredients the better, and variety is part of what makes the food so interesting. Many dishes are made with okra (gombo) which is very slimy, and because it's commonly used on the streets it's easy to get the impression that there's little else. Meals typically consist of a staple (rice, fermented cassava - another very sticky sensation - or bananas) with some kind of sauce. - Maddy Esteb

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