Last Friday the Central African Republic celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence from France. During the Scramble for Africa at the end of the 19th century, the French under the leadership of Count Savorgnan de Brazza had set up a post at Bangui. Negotiations over the country’s borders with Congo and Sudan left the new landlocked country of Ubangi-Shari with less-than-desirable geographic characteristics.
During colonial rule, the country was subjected to frequent raids by African slave traders and the people were brutally oppressed by the colonisers, who subjected them to forced labour. In 1960 the country was granted independence under the name Central African Republic, and since then it has been subjected to mismanagement by a series of inept governments. Jean-Bédel Bokassa was perhaps the best known of the country’s rulers, coming to power through a coup in 1966 and crowning himself Emperor in 1976 before being overthrown in 1979.
The country, which is one of the ten poorest countries in the world, has very poor infrastructure, with almost no paved roads, telephone lines, television or print media outside of the capital. With a very high level of insecurity, it is a haven for warlords, rebels and refugees from neighbouring African conflicts. Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army have been known to hide out and carry out raids there. The country is rich in natural resources, but prosperity will remain elusive until peace and good government are established.