Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. The CAR covers a land area of about 620,000 square kilometers, and has an estimated population of about 4.7 million people. The capital of the CAR is Bangui. The country is bordered by Cameroon to the west, Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south. The CAR is a former French colony, and was a part of the French Equatorial Africa from 1904 to 1960. The country gained independence from France in 1960. The CAR is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Economic Community of Central African States. The CAR is a poor country, and is ranked 185th out of 188 countries on the United Nations Development Programme’s 2016 human development index. The CAR is also a conflict-affected country, and has been plagued by violence and instability since 2013. The CAR is rich in minerals, and has deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium, and oil. However, the country’s mineral wealth has not been exploited due to the country’s instability. The CAR is home to various ethnic groups, including the Baya, Banda, Mandja, Mbaka, and Yakoma. French and Sango are the country’s official languages. The CAR is a majority Christian country, with about 50% of the population being Roman Catholic and 20% being Protestant. Muslims make up about 15% of the population. The economy of the CAR is largely based on agriculture. The main crops grown in the country are cassava, maize, sorghum, peanuts, and rice. The country also has large deposits of timber. The CAR is plagued by poverty, illiteracy, and poor health. The life expectancy in the CAR is just 49 years, and the infant mortality rate is high. The CAR is a dangerous place to live, and has one of the highest crime rates in the world. The country is also affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency. The Central African Republic is a country that is rich in natural resources, but is plagued by instability and violence. The country faces many challenges, but there is also hope for the future.