Central African Republic
Background
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 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist.
Location
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic co ordinates
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
Total: 622,984 sq km ; land: 622,984 sq km ; water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
Slightly smaller than Texas
Climate
Tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain
Vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Natural resources
Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Natural hazards
Hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Nationality
Noun: Central African(s) ; adjective: Central African
Languages
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Country name
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
Capital
Name: Bangui ; geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E ; time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative division
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
National holiday
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Flag
Industries
Gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Currency code
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)
Internet country code
.cf
Ports and terminals
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Chad
Background
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits.
Location
Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic co ordinates
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
Total: 1.284 million sq km ; land: 1,259,200 sq km ; water: 24,800 sq km
Area-comparative
Slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries
Total: 5,968 km ; border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Climate
Tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain
Broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Natural resources
Petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Natural hazards
Hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
Nationality
Noun: Chadian(s) ; adjective: Chadian
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Chad ; conventional short form: Chad ; local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad ; local short form: Tchad/Tshad
Capital
Name: N'Djamena ; geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E ; time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative division
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile ; note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Flag
Industries
Oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Currency code
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)
Internet country code
.td
Chile
Background
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated by Spain until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation..
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic co ordinates
30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
Total: 756,950 sq km ; land: 748,800 sq km ; water: 8,150 sq km ; note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area-comparative
Slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries
Total: 6,339 km ; border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km
Climate
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Terrain
Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Natural resources
Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Natural hazards
Severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Nationality
Noun: Chilean(s) ; adjective: Chilean
Languages
Spanish
Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Chile ; conventional short form: Chile ; local long form: Republica de Chile ; local short form: Chile
Capital
Name: Santiago ; geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W ; time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) ; daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March
Administrative division
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso ; note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Flag
Industries
Copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Currency code
Chilean peso (CLP)
Internet country code
.cl
Ports and terminals
Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso