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Central African Republic

OFFICIAL NAME: Central African Republic

DATE OF FORMATION: 1960

POPULATION: 3.9 million

DENSITY: 16 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Sango, Banda, Gbaya, French

RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 60%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 35%, Muslim 5%

ETHNIC MIX: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 21%, Sara 10%, Other 8%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: CFA franc

Click to see a larger map

Landlocked at the eastern end of the Sahel, the Central African Republic (CAR) is a low plateau stretching north from the Ubangi River. Almost all the population lives in the equatorial, rainforested south. "Emperor" Bokassa's eccentric rule from 1965 to 1979 was followed by military dictatorship. Civilian rule from 1993 was plagued by mutinies and rebellion. The 2003 coup leader, Gen. François Bozizé, was elected president in 2005.