Though rich in mineral deposits, resources and arable land, the impoverished and landlocked Central African Republic has been plagued by instability and violence since achieving nationhood in 1960.

A United Nations peacekeeping force, the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), was established in September 2014. MINUSCA replaced an African Union-led peacekeeping operation (supported by French and European Union forces) which was deployed following a renewed outbreak of violence in December 2012.

French and Sango are the official languages. The country's capital is Bangui.

The Central African Republic is a member of the Economic Community of Central African States and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa. The country was suspended from the African Union in March 2013 and readmitted in 2016.

Travel information

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Heads of Government

• Includes Heads of State, Prime Ministers, Foreign, Trade and Aid Ministers

Embassies and consulates

Australia

• The Australian Ambassador to the Central African Republic is resident in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.