Historical Background

The Central African Republic, a 617,000 square-kilometre landlocked state in the heart of central Africa, has a population of 3,800,000 inhabitants (in 2003), made up essentially of the Pygmy and the Bantu ethnic groups.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, this territory became a French colony known as Ubangi-Shari. In 1946, it became a French overseas territory, and gained independence in 1960.
President Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa’s reign ended in September 1979, when the dictator was overthrown by the former president, Daniel Dacko. In 1981, came André Kolingba’s turn to rule the country following a cop d’état.

Protect foreign nationals

From 1979 to 1982, during the clashes that followed the ousting of Jean Bedel Bokassa (1979) and the takeover by André Kolingba (1981), the French army was called up to ensure the security of foreign nationals and to help stabilize the country.
In May 1986, the strength of the French army was reinforced with foreign legion detachments as well as parachutist and commando troops. Amid street-fighting in Bangui, these troops evacuated foreign nationals, occupied and protected strategic points, and participated in negotiations with the rebels.
In 1993, Ange Felix Patassé was elected president of the Republic.

Mutinies and coups d’état engender chaos

In 1996, soldiers mutinied following to the non-payment of their dues. These mutinies were accompanied by strikes. The French army, present in the country, provided backup to the presidential guard. Years after, order and security could not be restored completely due to corruption and the possession of war weapons by the population. Insurrections and coups attempts were frequent.
In 1997, MISAB, an inter-African force, was deployed. This was replaced in 1998 by MINURCA, a UN force.
In 2003, following another rebellion, CEMAC (the Monetary Community of Central African States), sent several hundred troops to maintain order in Bangui, train the army, protect President Ange Felix Patassé and control the borders with Chad.
Plagued for several decades by incessant mutinies and coups d’état, the Central African Republic gradually sank deeper and deeper into total chaos, characterized by abject poverty, wherein survival depended solely on international aid.

France’s role in the Central African Republic is permanently the maintenance of the two strategic hubs - the bases of Bangui and Bouar, where between 1,000 and 1,500 men are stationed. French forces are always present to carry out their “violence control and force coercion” missions, pending the finding of a final lasting political solution by the leaders of Central African Republic.

• Histoire et géographie du Centrafrique
• Photos : en mission avec l’ALAT en RCA
• Centrafrique : 45 années d'operations militaires francaises