The Central African Republic with its population of some 4.3-4.4 million stands today not so much as a failed state but a landmass that it referred to as a state, defined primarily by its boundaries with other African nations. Cut off from outside influences for hundreds of years, armed slaved traders penetrated the region in the mid-nineteenth century and exported much of the population, particularly in the east of the country.

The Central African Republic was the former French colony of Ubangi-Chari and established self government in 1958 with Barthelemy Boganda as its prime minister. A year later Boganda was dead, however the country gained its independence in 1960 with his nephew, David Dacko, as its first president. Dacko quickly established one party rule, or perhaps mis-rule and there followed three decades of political turmoil with a succession of governments, mainly military, until democracy was allowed to emerge in 1993.

Democracy, however, did not bring about the changes required in a poor country that had suffered from years of internal divisions and the next ten years continued to see civil unrest, coup attempts, and revolts from soldiers and civil servants over unpaid wages. In 2003 Rebel leader Francois Bozize marched into the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, and declared himself President (whilst the then president Ange-Felix Patasse was out of the country. Patasse was later to be found guilty in his absence  of fraud and sentenced to twenty years hard labour.) Bozize was confirmed as President in 2005 and further elections planned for 2010 were postponed due to officials 'not having enough time' to organise them.

The current transitional government of the Central African Republic whilst in power, has little to no control of outlying areas particularly around Central African Republic's borders where rebel groups operate using guerrilla tactics to often terrorise local communities. Today the Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with poor infrastructure including schools and municipal buildings and life outcomes are poor. For child sponsorship opportunities in the Central African Republic click here.