FOREIGN
RELATIONS
The Central
African Republic is an active member in several Central African
organizations, including the Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC),
the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) Central
African Peace and Security Council (COPAX--still under formation),
and the Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC). Standardization
of tax, customs, and security arrangements between the Central
African states is a major foreign policy objective of the C.A.R.
Government. The C.A.R. is a participant in the Community of Sahel-Saharan
States (CEN-SAD), and the Organization of African Unity (OAU--now
the African Union). Libya and, to a lesser degree, Sudan have
shown increased interest in cooperation with the C.A.R. over the
last year.
Outside
of Africa, the C.A.R. maintains fairly close ties to France, albeit
considerably reduced from previous years. In the late 1990s, France
withdrew forces stationed in the C.A.R.; drops in its external
assistance budget have reduced French military and social development
aid to the country. Other multilateral organizations--including
the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UN agencies, European
Union, and the African Development Bank--and bilateral donors--including
Germany, Japan, the European Union, China, and the United States--are
significant development partners for the C.A.R.
Seventeen
countries have resident diplomatic or consular representatives
in Bangui, and the C.A.R. maintains approximately the same number
of missions abroad. Since early 1989 the government recognizes
both Israel and the Palestinian state. The C.A.R. also maintains
diplomatic relations with China. The C.A.R. generally joins other
African and developing country states in consensus positions on
major policy issues.
U.S.-C.A.R.
RELATIONS
The U.S. and C.A.R. enjoy generally good relations, although concerns
over the pace of political and economic liberalization and human
rights have affected the degree of support provided by the U.S.
to the country. The U.S. Embassy in Bangui was briefly closed
as a result of the 1996-97 mutinies. It reopened in 1998 with
limited staff, but U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
and Peace Corps missions previously operating in Bangui did not
return. The American Embassy in Bangui again temporarily suspended
operations on November 2, 2002 in response to security concerns
raised by the October 2002 launch of Francois Bozize’s 2003
military coup.
The Embassy reopened in January 2005; however, there currently is limited U.S. diplomatic/consular representation in the C.A.R. As a result, the ability of the Embassy to provide services to American citizens remains extremely limited. The Department of State approved the lifting of Section 508 aid restrictions triggered by the coup; U.S. assistance to the Central African Republic had been prohibited except in the areas of humanitarian aid and support for democratization.
The
U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against
travel to the Central African Republic. Americans in the C.A.R.
are urged to exercise caution and maintain security awareness
at all times. U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in the Central
African Republic and need emergency assistance should contact
the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon at telephone (237) 223-4014,
(237) 223-0512, fax (237) 223-0753, and 223-0581 (Consular). Americans
may also contact the American Embassy in N'djamena, Chad at telephone
(235) 51-70-09, 51-92-33 or 51-90-52 and fax (235) 51-56-54. As
noted above, since the United States has a limited diplomatic
presence in the Central African Republic, the ability to provide
services to U.S. citizens in the C.A.R. is extremely limited.
DEFENSE
Under military restructuring plans formulated 1999-2000, the civilian Minister of Defense controlled and directed all armed forces, including the Presidential Security Unit (UPS), which had previously been seen as a militia supporting the president. In April 2001, the C.A.R. armed forces numbered about 3,000, including army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, national police, Presidential Security Unit, and local police personnel. An estimated 1,200 members of the army and gendarmerie fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the failed coup attempt of May 2001.
Following the 2003 coup, Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC-Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale) and C.A.R. armed forces assumed responsibility for securing the capital city. CEMAC forces currently total approximately 400 soldiers, which are supported by an additional 200 French soldiers. The C.A.R. armed forces number approximately 2,000. Working with the French, the C.A.R. military is attempting to provide professional training and decentralize its troops in an effort to combat road bandits, thievery, and poaching throughout the C.A.R. territory.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Frederick Cook
Deputy Chief of Mission--Charles Neary
Political Officer--Cameron McGlothlin
The U.S. Embassy in Bangui is located on Blvd David Dacko, Bangui (tel: 236-61-02-00, fax: 61-44-94, B.P. 924, Bangui).
