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Africa :: Central African Republic

- ## Introduction :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Background:
  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 but lasted only a decade. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president; new general elections are scheduled for October 2015.

- ## Geography :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Location:
  Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Geographic coordinates:
  7 00 N, 21 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 622,984 sq km
  land: 622,984 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Texas
  Land boundaries:
  total: 5,920 km
  border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 km, Sudan 174 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
  Terrain:
  vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
  highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
  Natural resources:
  diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.1%
  arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 5.1%
  forest: 36.2%
  other: 55.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1.35 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  144.4 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.07 cu km/yr (83%/17%/1%)
  per capita: 17.42 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
  Environment - current issues:
  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:
  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:
  landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

- ## People and Society :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Nationality:
  noun: Central African(s)
  adjective: Central African
  Ethnic groups:
  Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
  Languages:
  French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
  Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
  note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
  Population:
  5,391,539
  note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40.43% (male 1,095,968/female 1,083,705)
  15-24 years: 20.06% (male 543,491/female 537,804)
  25-54 years: 32.02% (male 863,314/female 862,916)
  55-64 years: 3.98% (male 96,377/female 118,278)
  65 years and over: 3.52% (male 74,192/female 115,494) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 75.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 68.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 6.8%
  potential support ratio: 14.8% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.5 years
  male: 19.2 years
  female: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.13% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Birth rate:
  35.08 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Death rate:
  13.8 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 40% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 90.63 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 98.24 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 82.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 51.81 years
  male: 50.5 years
  female: 53.16 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 219
  Total fertility rate:
  4.41 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  15.2% (2010/11)
  Health expenditures:
  3.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Physicians density:
  0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 89.6% of population
  rural: 54.4% of population
  total: 68.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 10.4% of population
  rural: 45.6% of population
  total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 43.6% of population
  rural: 7.2% of population
  total: 21.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 56.4% of population
  rural: 92.8% of population
  total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  4.25% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  135,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  9,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
  respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  4.4% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  23.5% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Education expenditures:
  1.2% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 36.8%
  male: 50.7%
  female: 24.4% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 7 years
  male: 9 years
  female: 6 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 532,518
  percentage: 47% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Central African Republic
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
  local short form: none
  former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
  abbreviation: CAR
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Bangui
  geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
  Independence:
  13 August 1960 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest ratified by referendum 5 December 2004, effective 27 December 2004; amended 2010; note - the transitional parliament has begun work on a new constitution which should be ready for citizens feedback in early 2015 (2010)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the French model
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Interim President Catherine SAMBA-PANZA (since 23 January 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mahamat KAMOUN (since 10 August 2014); note - Prime Minister Andre NZAPAYEKE replaced Prime Minister Nicolas TIANGAYE on 25 January 2014 and was fired on 5 August 2014; Nicolas TIANGAYE resigned 10 January 2014
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: interim president elected by the National Transitional Council on 20 January 2014 and sworn in three days later (next general election scheduled for October 2015
  election results: Catherine SAMBA-PANZA elected in second round; SAMBA-PANZA 75 votes from the National Transitional Council, Desire KOLINGBA 53 votes (128 MPs out of 135 voted)
  note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015 when new elections were to be held; her term has been extended because instability has delayed new elections
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in February 2015)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 61, MLPC 1, RDC 1, independent 16, other 11
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of which are women)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms
  subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]
  Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Louis-Pierre GAMBA]
  Civic Forum or FC
  Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Saturnin NDOMBY]
  Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
  Londo Association or LONDO
  Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD
  Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE]
  National Convergence or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]
  National Unity Party or PUN
  New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]
  Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Alexandre Philippe GOUMBA]
  People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]
  Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009)
  chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
  consulate(s): New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David BROWN (since 14 September 2014)
  embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
  mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
  telephone: [236] 21 61 02 00
  FAX: [236] 21 61 44 94
  note: the embassy suspended operations in December, 2012
  Flag description:
  four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future
  National symbol(s):
  elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)
  lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
  note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

- ## Economy :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Economy - overview:
  Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Since 2009 the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the election in 2011 worsened CAR's fiscal situation. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. After a two-year lag in donor support, the IMF's first review of CAR's extended credit facility for 2012-15 praised improvements in revenue collection but warned of weak management of spending.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.855 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.826 billion (2013 est.)
  $4.42 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 186
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $1.786 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1% (2014 est.)
  -36% (2013 est.)
  4.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $600 (2014 est.)
  $600 (2013 est.)
  $900 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 230
  Gross national saving:
  7.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  5.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  10.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 95.4%
  government consumption: 5.6%
  investment in fixed capital: 8%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 10.2%
  imports of goods and services: -19.1%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 55.1%
  industry: 12.5%
  services: 32.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
  Industries:
  gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Labor force:
  2.217 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Unemployment rate:
  8% (2001 est.)
  note: 23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.1%
  highest 10%: 33% (2003)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  61.3 (1993)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Budget:
  revenues: $157.7 million
  expenditures: $205.4 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  9.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15% (2014 est.)
  1.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  4.75% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  15% (31 December 2014 est.)
  15% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Stock of narrow money:
  $196.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $250.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Stock of broad money:
  $292.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $358.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $349 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $425.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$110 million (2014 est.)
  -$142.9 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Exports:
  $102.4 million (2014 est.)
  $102.9 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Exports - commodities:
  diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
  Exports - partners:
  China 29.2%, Indonesia 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 15%, Norway 7%, Morocco 5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, France 4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $216.7 million (2014 est.)
  $212.4 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Imports - commodities:
  food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
  Imports - partners:
  Norway 14%, France 7.7%, US 7.6% (2014)
  Debt - external:
  $560.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $543.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Exchange rates:
  Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
  491.2 (2014 est.)
  494.04 (2013 est.)
  510.53 (2012 est.)
  471.87 (2011 est.)
  495.28 (2010)

- ## Energy :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Electricity - production:
  175 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - consumption:
  162.8 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  44,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  43.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  56.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2,910 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,318 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  435,000 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185

- ## Communications :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 1.5 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
  domestic: limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui
  international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .cf
  Internet users:
  total: 181,000
  percent of population: 3.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157

- ## Transportation :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Airports:
  39 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 37
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
  914 to 1,523 m: 19
  under 914 m:
  6 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 20,278 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Waterways:
  2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Ports and terminals:
  river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)

- ## Military :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Military branches:
  Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,149,856
  females age 16-49: 1,145,897 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 655,875
  females age 16-49: 661,308 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 54,843
  female: 53,999 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

- Disputes - international:
  periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 5,342 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015)
  IDPs: 369,490 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2015)
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; increased violence and displacement rendered Central Africans more vulnerable to exploitation; the recruitment of child soldiers, at times through force, increased dramatically during the year; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also forced into domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, agricultural labor, mining, and street vending
  tier rating: Tier 3 - Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not investigate or prosecute any suspected cases of human trafficking in 2013, including the use of child soldiers; the government also failed to identify, provide protection to, or refer to service providers any trafficking victims (2014)

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