Central African Republic

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides limited domestic TV broadcasting; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2017)

.cf

total: 246,000 | percent of population: 4.6% (July 2016 est.)

general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018) | domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached 22 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2018) | international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total subscriptions: 1,964 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions: 1,248,346 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (July 2016 est.)

cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

revenues: 282.9 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 300.1 million (2017 est.)

-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

4.25% (31 December 2009) | 4.75% (31 December 2008)

15.5% (31 December 2017 est.) | 15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)

-$163 million (2017 est.) | -$97 million (2016 est.)

$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

43.6 (2003 est.) | 61.3 (1993)

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro. Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR’s fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government’s management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery. Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth.

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 605.3 (2017 est.) | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.)

$113.7 million (2017 est.) | $101.5 million (2016 est.)

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee

France 31.2%, Burundi 16.2%, China 12.5%, Cameroon 9.6%, Austria 7.8% (2017)

calendar year

$1.937 billion (2017 est.)

$3.39 billion (2017 est.) | $3.249 billion (2016 est.) | $3.108 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

household consumption: 95.3% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 8.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 12% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -29.5% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 43.2% (2017 est.) | industry: 16% (2017 est.) | services: 40.8% (2017 est.)

$700 (2017 est.) | $700 (2016 est.) | $600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

4.3% (2017 est.) | 4.5% (2016 est.) | 4.8% (2015 est.)

5.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 8.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 4.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.1% | highest 10%: 33% (2003)

$393.1 million (2017 est.) | $342.2 million (2016 est.)

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

France 17.1%, US 12.3%, India 11.5%, China 8.2%, South Africa 7.4%, Japan 5.8%, Italy 5.1%, Cameroon 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2017)

3.9% (2017 est.)

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

4.1% (2017 est.) | 4.6% (2016 est.)

2.242 million (2017 est.)

NA

62% NA (2008 est.)

52.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 56% of GDP (2016 est.)

$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$428.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $341.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$547 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $452.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$428.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $341.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

6.9% (2017 est.)

413,800 Mt (2017 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

159.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

38,300 kW (2016 est.)

171.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

population without electricity: 5 million (2017) | electrification - total population: 14% (2016) | electrification - urban areas: 34.1% (2016) | electrification - rural areas: 0.4% (2016)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

2,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

total: 622,984 sq km | land: 622,984 sq km | water: 0 sq km

slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Central African Republic Print Image Description slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia

tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

0 km (landlocked)

mean elevation: 635 m | lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m | highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m

water pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

7 00 N, 21 00 E

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

10 sq km (2012)

total: 5,920 km | border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1055 km, Sudan 174 km

agricultural land: 8.1% (2011 est.) | arable land: 2.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 5.1% (2011 est.) | forest: 36.2% (2011 est.) | other: 55.7% (2011 est.)

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa

none (landlocked)

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui

vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

name: Bangui | geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: established as a French settlement in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River; the Ubangi itself was named from the native word for the "rapids" located beside the outpost, which marked the end of navigable water north from from Brazzaville

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years

history: several previous; latest (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016 | amendments: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials (2017)

conventional long form: Central African Republic | conventional short form: none | local long form: Republique Centrafricaine | local short form: none | former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire | abbreviation: CAR | etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent

chief of mission: Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 6 February 2019) | telephone: [236] 21 61 0200 | embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui | mailing address: P.O. Box 924, Bangui | FAX: [236] 21 61 4494

Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018) | chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 | FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016) | head of government: Prime Minister Firmin NGREBADA (since 25 February 2019) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 December 2015 with a runoff 20 February 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12.%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3% | note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015, when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future

presidential republic

13 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms | subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts

civil law system based on the French model

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held 30 December 2015 (results annulled), 14 February 2016 - first round and 31 March 2016 - second round (next to be held in 2021) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition - men 129, women 11, percent of women 7.9%

name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance) | lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER | note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red

Action Party for Development or PAD [El Hadj Laurent NGON-BABA] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA] Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA] Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH] Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE] National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE] National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL] New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]

18 years of age; universal

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 - civilian rule was established in 1993 but lasted only a decade. In March 2003, President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where lawlessness persists. Several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president. Elections completed in March 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he continues to work towards peace between the government and armed groups, and is developing a disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation program to reintegrate the armed groups into society.

the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its peacekeeping mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; as of September 2019, MINUSCA had nearly 14,000 total personnel, including about 10,800 troops; in November 2019, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission another year (2019)

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2019)

1.41% of GDP (2018) | 1.44% of GDP (2017) | 1.53% of GDP (2016) | 1.69% of GDP (2015) | 2.56% of GDP (2014)

18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2019)

0-14 years: 39.89% (male 1,151,724 /female 1,140,083) | 15-24 years: 19.91% (male 574,969 /female 568,942) | 25-54 years: 32.64% (male 938,365 /female 936,948) | 55-64 years: 4.17% (male 112,310 /female 127,045) | 65 years and over: 3.39% (male 75,401 /female 119,275) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Central African Republic Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Central African Republic. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

34 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

24.6% (2012)

15.2% (2010/11)

4.3% (2016)

12.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since a coup in March 2013. CAR’s high mortality rate and low life expectancy are attributed to elevated rates of preventable and treatable diseases (including malaria and malnutrition), an inadequate health care system, precarious food security, and armed conflict. Some of the worst mortality rates are in western CAR’s diamond mining region, which is impoverished because of government attempts to control the diamond trade and the fall in industrial diamond prices. To make matters worse, the government and international donors have reduced health funding in recent years. The CAR’s weak educational system and low literacy rate have also suffered as a result of the country’s ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, qualified teachers are scarce, infrastructure, funding, and supplies are lacking and subject to looting, and many students and teachers are displaced by violence. Rampant poverty, human rights violations, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of security and stability have led to forced displacement internally and externally. Since the political crisis that resulted in CAR’s March 2013 coup began in December 2012, approximately 370,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while more than an estimated 600,000 are displaced internally as of October 2017. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness.

total dependency ratio: 90 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 83.1 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 14.4 (2015 est.)

improved: urban: 89.6% of population | rural: 54.4% of population | total: 68.5% of population | unimproved: urban: 10.4% of population | rural: 45.6% of population | total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

1.2% of GDP (2011)

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

3.6% (2018 est.)

4,800 (2018 est.)

110,000 (2018 est.)

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

total: 84.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 91.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 76.7 deaths/1,000 live births

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

total population: 53.3 years (2018 est.) | male: 51.9 years | female: 54.7 years

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 36.8% | male: 50.7% | female: 24.4% (2015)

degree of risk: very high (2019) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever (2019) | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2019) | water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2019) | animal contact diseases: rabies (2019) | respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2019)

870,000 BANGUI (capital) (2019)

829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 19.8 years (2018 est.) | male: 19.5 years | female: 20.1 years

noun: Central African(s) | adjective: Central African

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

7.5% (2016)

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

5,745,062 (July 2018 est.) | note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui

2.11% (2018 est.)

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% (2018) | note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

improved: urban: 43.6% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 7.2% of population (2015 est.) | total: 21.8% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 56.4% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 92.8% of population (2015 est.) | total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 7 years | male: 8 years | female: 6 years (2012)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female | total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

4.25 children born/woman (2018 est.)

urban population: 41.8% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan

IDPs: 600,136 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2019)

current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back and forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including those aligned with the former SELEKA Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also subject to domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor in agriculture, mines, shops, and street vending; women and girls are subject to domestic servitude, sexual slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced marriage | tier rating: Tier 3 – the Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government conducted a limited number of investigations and prosecutions of cases of suspected human trafficking in 2014 but did not identify, provide protection to, or refer to care providers any trafficking victims; the government did not directly provide reintegration programs for demobilized child soldiers, leaving victims vulnerable to further exploitation or retrafficking by armed groups, including those affiliated with the government; in 2014, an NGO and the government began drafting a national action plan against trafficking but no efforts were reported to establish a policy against child soldiering or to raise awareness about existing laws prohibiting the use of children in the armed forces (2015)

39 (2013)

total: 1 (2019) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

total: 37 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 19 (2013) | under 914 m: 6 (2013)

TL (2016)

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui) | Nola (Sangha)

total: 24,000 km (2018) | paved: 700 km (2018) | unpaved: 23,300 km (2018)

2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) (2011)