Central African Republic

A country of central Africa. Part of French Equatorial Africa after the 1890s, it became independent in 1960. In 1966 Col. Jean-Bédel Bokassa overthrew the government and later declared himself emperor, and from 1976 to 1979 the country was called the Central African Empire. Following further political instability in the 1980s, a civilian government was restored in 1993. Bangui is the capital and the largest city. Population: 4,370,000.