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Central African Republic (CAR)

Capital | Bangui

Independence | 13 August 1960

Official Languages | French, Sango

~5.4 million
Population

622,984 km²
Total area

USD 2.93 billion
GDP

USD 530
GDP per Capita

CFA Franc (XAF)
Currency

Christianity
Main Religion

Membership to Regional Organisations

CEMAC, AU, ECCAS

Regional Significance

The Central African Republic is a fragile but strategically positioned state in Central Africa and a key test case for competing security models on the continent, including Russian (Africa Corps), Western, and African Union approaches. Its insecurity continues to draw sustained regional and international military engagement while generating humanitarian crises, and security pressures across the region.

 Key Challenges

  • Ongoing armed group activity outside Bangui — security fragile outside the capital
  • Democratic backsliding — term limits removed via 2023 referendum
  • Russian paramilitary (Africa Corps) influence on governance and accountability
  • First local elections in nearly 40 years only held in December 2025
  • Severe poverty and humanitarian needs, especially in remote areas
  • Landlocked geography limiting trade and economic development

 Interesting Facts

CAR has 15 million hectares of arable land, of which less than 1% is currently cultivated.