Central Africa Republic: Central African Republic Government Profile 2013

Michel Djotodia, has been sworn in as president

The Central African Republic (CAR) has been unstable since its independence from France in 1960 and is one of the least-developed nations in the world.

It has endured several coups and a notorious period under a self-declared emperor, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who headed a brutal regime.

The Bokassa era ended in 1979, at the same time as he was overthrown in a coup led by David Dacko and backed by French commandos based in the country.

Next just two years in office Mr Dacko was toppled by Andre Kolingba, who from presently on allowed multi-party presidential elections and was duly rejected in the initial round.

Mr Kolingba's successor, Ange-Felix Patasse, had to contend with critical unrest which culminated in riots and looting in 1997 by unpaid soldiers.

At the same time as in that year the French pulled out, there were fears of a power vacuum, so Paris financed a group of French-speaking African nations to create a peacekeeping force. That force was again transformed into the UN Mission to the Central African Republic, or Minurca.

In 1999 Mr Patasse beat nine other candidates to become president again, but there were allegations of electoral fraud. He was overthrown in a coup in 2003 and went into exile in Togo.

Judicial system 

There are several civil courts, criminal courts, and a court of appeal situated in Bangui. At the apex is a Supreme Court, also located in Bangui, the members of which are appointed by the president.

There are also provisions for a High Court of Justice, a body of nine judges created to try political cases against the president, members of congress and government ministers, which has never convened.

The 1994 constitution reorganized the judiciary, which consists of regular and military courts. A Constitutional Court was formed in 1996 to determine if laws passed by the National Assembly conform to the constitution: three of its judges are appointed by the president, three by the president of the National Assembly, and three by fellow judges. New courts of justice were created in 1997 in both urban and rural areas, and a juvenile court in 1998. The functioning of these courts is undermined by inefficient management, shortage of trained personnel, increasing salary arrears, and a general lack of material resources. The legal system is based on the French civil law system. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent and have the right to counsel, to public trial, and to confront witnesses. Trials are public and frequently broadcast on national radio.

In 2001, the lone operating criminal court met only once for a period of two months due to lack of funds; there was a large backlog of criminal cases. In 2003, François Bozizé seized power in a coup and suspended the constitution.