Difference between revisions of "Central African Republic"
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Revision as of 10:58, August 22, 2007
The Central African Republic (République Centrafricaine) is a nation of central Africa, bordered by Chad, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, and Cameroon. It has an area of 240,324 square miles (622436 sq km) and a population of 4.37 million (2007 est). The capital city is Bangui.
The CAR was the former French territory of Ubangi-Shari (part of French Equatorial Africa), and was renamed upon gaining independence in 1960. Between 1966 and 1979 it was ruled by the military leader Jean-Bedel Bokassa (1921-1996). In 1976 Bokassa renamed the country the Central African Empire and declared himself emperor. In 1979 he was overthrown in a coup mounted with the aid of his former supporter, France, and the name Central African Republic was restored.