Central African Republic

Count Savorgnan de Brazza led French expeditions into the region in the 1880s and the French colony of Ubangi-Shari was established the following decade.

The name Ubangi-Shari was derived from the Ubangi and Chari rivers, which flow through the country.

Bangui, the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic, was founded by two French explorers, Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac in French Congo on June 26, 1889.  It was originally named "Brazzaville-aux-Rapides" after the nearby rapids on the Ubangi River. The city was renamed Bangui in 1904 after the Bobangi people who inhabited the area.

Bangui's name is derived from the local Ngbaka language, and it means "the place where the rivers meet." 

Bangui was originally a small trading post, but it grew rapidly in the early 20th century as it became a major center for the ivory trade. The city was also an important military outpost for the French colonial government.

The city centre of Bangui, at PK0 roundabout level. by  Alllexxxis 

Ubangi-Shari became self-governing within French Equatorial Africa, under the name Central African Republic, in 1958 and achieved full independence on August 13, 1960.

In December 1977 Bokassa was crowned emperor at a lavish ceremony his country could ill afford. His rule became increasingly dictatorial and idiosyncratic, leading to revolts by students. In April 1979 schoolchildren who objected to the compulsory wearing of school uniforms made by a company owned by the Bokassa family revolted. Many of the children were imprisoned, and it is estimated that at least 100 were killed, with the emperor allegedly personally involved.

The CAR covers a land area of about 240,000 square miles, and has an estimated population of about 4.4 million as of 2008.

Forest covers up to 8% of the land. The densest parts are in the south. The deforestation rate is 0.4% per year, and lumber poaching is commonplace.

Almost the entire country of the Central African Republic is covered with a magnetic anomaly, a local variation in the Earth's magnetic field that make compasses go crazy.

Source Hutchinson Encyclopedia © RM 2014. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.