Background The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - a civilian government was installed in 1993.

NOTE: The information regarding Central African Republic on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Central African Republic Introduction 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Central African Republic Introduction 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.