Catherine Samba-Panza

Catherine Samba -Panza ( born June 26, 1954 in Fort -Lamy, Chad) is since January 20, 2014 Interim President of the Central African Republic.

Life

Samba grew up in Chad. Her father is from Cameroon and her mother from the Central African Republic. She studied law in France and was before her move into politics a successful businesswoman and corporate lawyer.

Political career

Samba -Panza was by then de facto President Michel Djotodia, established in March 2013 as the mayor of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

Djotodia, who had declared in March 2013 after a coup himself president, resigned under pressure from the ECCAS from his post on 10 January 2014. On January 20, 2014, the transitional parliament Samba -Panza chose to interim President. In Step were seven other candidates, including Désiré Kolingba, the son of former President André Kolingba (1981-1993), and Sylvain Patassé, son of former President Ange-Félix Patassé (1993-2003 ). Requirement of the Parliament to the candidates was that they had come neither to SELEKA compounds that help Djotodia to power, could have still another rebel organization. In addition, all candidates were excluded who had held political office under Djotodia or members of the military. Samba -Panza should lead the government to the planned elections in February 2015.