Central African

Ethnic divisions: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum
4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)

Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%,
Muslim 15%, other 11%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian
majority

Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 38%
male: 52%
female: 25%

Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%,
government 3%
note: about 64,000 salaried workers (1985)

@Central African Republic:Government

Names:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire

Abbreviation: CAR

Digraph: CT

Type: republic;

Capital: 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)

National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the
republic)

Constitution: 21 November 1986

Legal system: based on French law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993);
election last held 19 September 1993 (next scheduled for 1998);
PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%
head of government: Prime Minister (vacant) (Dr. Jean-Luc MANDABA
resigned on 11 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 19
September 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (85
total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, others 22
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they
are called the Congress (Congres)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour