[20071102]RS22751_中非共和国.pdf

Order Code RS22751November 2, 2007The Central African RepublicTed DagneSpecialist in African AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryIn March 2003, a rebellion led by former Army Chief of Staff Francois Bozizeousted President Ange Patasse from power. In 2005, the Bozize government organizedpresidential and legislative elections. In May 2005, Bozize defeated former PrimeMinster Martin Ziguele and his ruling party won 42 out of the 105 seats in the NationalAssembly. The Central African Republic (CAR) has been impacted by the crisis in theDarfur region of Sudan and suffers from internal rebellion. Fighting between rebelgroups and government forces has displaced more than 70,000 people in northeasternCAR. In September 2007, the European Union approved the deployment of a 4,000 manpeacekeeping force to Chad and CAR. This report will not be updated.BackgroundThe Central African Republic (CAR), a landlocked country of 4.3 million people,became independent in 1960. David Dacko became the first President under a one-partysystem. On December 31, 1965, Dacko was ousted from power in a military coup led byhis cousin, Colonel Jean-Bedel Bokassa. In 1966, Bokassa dissolved the