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Country Guide > Africa > Central African Republic | |
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General Information Area 622,984 sq km (240,535 sq miles). Population 3,900,000 (UN, 2005). Population Density 6.2 per sq km. Capital Bangui. Population: 690,000. Geography The Central African Republic is bordered to the north by Chad, to the east by Sudan, to the south by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, and to the west by Cameroon. It is a large, landlocked territory of mostly uninhabited forest, bush and game reserves. The Chari River cuts through the centre from east to north; towards the Cameroon border the landscape rises to 2000m (6560ft) west of Bocaranga in the northwest corner, while the southwest has dense tropical rainforest. Most of the country is rolling or flat plateau covered with dry deciduous forest, except where it has been reduced to grass savannah or destroyed by bush fire. The northeast becomes desert scrubland and mountainous in parts. Government Republic. Head of State: President François Bozizé since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Elie Doté since June 2005. Language The national language is Sango, but French is the official administrative language and is essential for business. Another 68 languages and dialects have been identified in addition to these. Religion 25 per cent of the population is Protestant. 25 per cent is Roman Catholic. There is a small Islamic minority of 15 per cent and 35 per cent of the population have indigeneous beliefs. Time GMT + 1. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD is available, although some calls are still directed through the operator. Country code: 236. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network is operated by Nationlink Telecom RCA (www.nationlinks.net) and Telecel Centrafrique (website: www.telecel.com). Coverage is limited to the capital, Bangui. Internet ISPs include Bangui 2000, Fateb and Socatel (website: www.socatel.intnet.cf). Telegram Telegrams may be sent Sat 1430-1830, Sun 0800-1830. Post There is a post office in each prefecture. Local postal services are unreliable. Both postal and telecommunications services are in the course of development. Airmail services to Europe take approximately one week, although it is often much longer; surface mail can take up to three months. Poste Restante facilities are available in Bangui. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1130 and 1430-1630; Sat 1430-1830; Sun 0800-1100, open for stamps and telegrams only. Press There are several daily newspapers, including Le Citoyen (an independent publication), Le Confident (an independent publication) and L'Hirondelle (an independent publication). The weekly publications have limited distribution and are in French. Centrafrique-Presse is a state-owned bi-monthly publication. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice), Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) and Radio France Internationale (website: www.rfi.fr) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |