Bangui
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures*
(prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1
commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,
Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere,
Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African Empire)
Constitution:
21 November 1986
Legal system:
based on French law
National holiday:
National Day (proclamation of the republic), 1 December (1958)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) advised by the Economic
and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit
together this is known as the Congress (Congres)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State::
President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)
Head of Government::
Prime Minister Edouard FRANCK (since 15 March 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Centrafrican Democratic Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA; note -
as part of political reforms leading to a democratic system announced in
April 1991, 18 opposition parties have been legalized
Suffrage:
universal at age 21
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 31 July 1987 (next to be held by end of 1992); results - RDC is
the only party; seats - (52 total) RDC 52
President:
last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held by end of 1992); results -
President KOLINGBA was reelected without opposition
Communists:
small number of Communist sympathizers
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET; Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7800 or 7801
US:
Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President David Dacko,
Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui); telephone 61-02-00, 61-25-78,
or 61-43-33; FAX [190] (236) 61-44-94

:Central African Republic Government