Flag of Central African Republic
Central African Republic Flag Meaning
In addition to the traditional Pan-African colors red, yellow and green, there are colors from the former colonial power and the yellow star symbolizes freedom.
The idea from the beginning was that it would be a common flag for the countries that would be part of a union under France. The first President of the Republic, Barthélemy Boganda, had imagined that the blue color would represent the sea of the Congo, the white was the cotton of Chad, the yellow was the natural resources of Central Africa, while the green was the forests of Gabon, red was the blood sacrificed by all the martyrs and stars to their freedom.
Central African Republic Overview
| Population | 3.7 million |
| Currency | CFA francs |
| Area | 622,980 km2 |
| Capital city | Bangui |
| Population density | 5.9 residents/km2 |
| HDI location | 159 |
Located in the interior of Africa without access to the sea. The country is geographically a high plain that gets its water from some of the Congo River’s runners (one of these, Oubangui, is shipping its products abroad) and from Lake Chad. The southwestern part of the country is covered by thick tropical rainforest. Commercial agriculture is concentrated on 3 products: cotton, coffee and tobacco. The extraction of diamonds is also a source of foreign currency. The cultivation of the soil has been done under poor conditions, which has increased erosion and decreased fertility. The lack of water and the pollution of some rivers are also serious problems.
The People: A majority of the Central African population belongs to the baya ethnic group(33%), followed by banda (27%), mandjia (13%), m’bak (4%), sara (10%), mbum (7%)) and yakoma (4%).
Religion: No state religion. About 24% of the population practices traditional African religions, 25% are Protestants, 25% Catholics, and 15% Muslims.
Language: French (official). Sango is the national language that enables communication across ethnic boundaries.
Political parties: the Party for the Liberation of the Central African People; The Central African Democratic Union; The Democratic Movement for the Rebirth and Development of the Central African Republic; The Patriotic Front of Progress; Social Democratic Party; Alliance for Democracy and Progress.
Official name: République Centralafricaine/Ködrö tî Bê-Afrika.
Administrative division: 16 prefectures and 52 sub-prefectures
Capital: Bangui, 622,771 residents (2006)
Other important cities: Berbérati, 61,400 residents; Bouar, 53,800 residents; Carnot, 51,900 residents; Bambari, 49,900 residents (2000) (1994)
Government: Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been president and head of government since April 2016. Since April 2016, Simplice Sarandji is prime minister and head of government. The National Assembly has 105 members elected for a five-year term. Due. the situation in the country is suspended by the National Assembly until the parliamentary elections in 2015. Instead there is a National Transitional Council (CNT) with 135 members.
National Day: December 1 (Independence, 1960)
Armed Forces: 2,650 Soldiers (1996).
Paramilitary forces: 2,700 (gendarmerie)