Bangui

Autonomous City of

Bangui is the capital of the Central African Republic. With 542 393 inhabitants ( 2005 calculation ) Bangui is the largest city and the political, economic and cultural center of the country.

Geography

The city is located in the southwest of the country on the river Ubangi at a point where several rapids restrict commercial shipping upriver. The Ubangi is at this point the boundary between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Boroughs

Bangui is administratively divided into eight arrondissements ( with the population census 8 December 2003):

F1 map with all coordinates: OSM, Google and Bing

The arrondissements are further subdivided into 16 groupements and including 205 in quarters.

History

The city was founded in 1889 as a French military base, which in 1898 proved to be a strategically important during the Fashoda crisis. 1910, the city officially capital of Ubangi -Shari, a province of French Equatorial Africa was. Ubangi -Shari in 1958 an autonomous republic within the French community, from which in 1960 emerged the Central African Republic as an independent state.

In March 1986, crashed a French fighter aircraft over populated areas, killing 35 people.

After the coup, the rebels SELEKA it comes (as of April 2013) in Bangui looting and armed assaults. In December two French marines died in Bangui.

Economy

Major industries of the city are the textile industry, the production of food, beer, juices, vegetables and soap. Exports are diamonds, timber, cotton and sisal agave.

Education

In the city is the University of Bangui, founded in 1969. She is one of two universities in the country in addition to the international Euclid University.

Traffic

Bangui is served by the Bangui M'Poko International Airport to international air traffic. Ferries across the Ubangi run to Brazzaville and Zongo. Roads connect the town with Cameroon, Chad and Sudan.

Attractions

Typical of Bangui are the wide streets, the city center is the Place de la Republique. There is a triumphal arch of former emperor Bokassa in the Roman style. Also worth seeing is the market and the Avenue Boganda, both true playgrounds African life.

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Jean- Bédel Bokassa, president and later Emperor
  • Élie Doté, politician and Prime Minister
  • André Kolingba, President
  • Anicet Lavodrama, Basketball Player
  • Nathalie Tauziat, French former tennis player

Climate

Bangui has a tropical climate with a dry season. The months of December, January and February are arid.

Ubangi River Wood Desert climate Bamingui-Bangoran Basse-Kotto
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