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Bangui

Bangui (French pronunciation: ​[bɑ̃ɡi]) (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River (French: Oubangui); the Ubangi itself was named from the Bobangi word for the "rapids" located beside the settlement,[2] which marked the end of navigable water north from Brazzaville. The majority of the population of the Central African Republic lives in the western parts of the country, in Bangui and the surrounding area.

Bangui
Bangî
From to; left to right: Oubangui Hotel, The shores of Bangui, Bangui Shopping District, Pedestrian crossing, view of street
Bangui, special commune of Central African Republic
Bangui
Bangî
Map of the Central African Republic showing Bangui
Bangui
Bangî
Bangui
Bangî (Africa)
Coordinates: 04°22′24″N 18°33′46″E / 4.37333°N 18.56278°E / 4.37333; 18.56278Coordinates: 04°22′24″N 18°33′46″E / 4.37333°N 18.56278°E / 4.37333; 18.56278
CountryCentral African Republic
Founded1889
Government
 • MayorEmile Raymond Gros Nakombo (2016–present)
Area
 • Total67 km2 (26 sq mi)
Elevation
369 m (1,211 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total889,231[1]
 • Density11,000/km2 (30,000/sq mi)
HDI0.513 (1st)

The city forms an autonomous commune (commune autonome) of the Central African Republic which is surrounded by the Ombella-M'Poko prefecture. With an area of 67 square kilometres (26 sq mi), the commune is the smallest high-level administrative division in the country, but the highest in terms of population. As of 2020 it had an estimated population of 889,231.

The city consists of eight urban districts (arrondissements), 16 groups (groupements) and 205 neighbourhoods (quartiers). As the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui acts as an administrative, trade, and commercial centre. The National Assembly, government buildings, banks, foreign enterprises and embassies, hospitals, hotels, main markets and the Ngaragba Central Prison are all located here. Bangui manufactures textiles, food products, beer, shoes and soap. Its Notre-Dame Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui. The city is also home to the University of Bangui, inaugurated in 1970. It is also served by the Bangui M'Poko International Airport.

History

 
A street scene in Bangui, 1912

Archaeological studies in and around Bangui have yielded at least 26 ancient Iron Age sites that contain many metallurgical tools and objects, illuminating the pre-European history of the city and surrounding area.[3] The archaeological sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 11 April 2006 in the Cultural category.[3] The site closest to Bangui is Pendere-Sengue, 800 metres (2,600 ft) from Independence Avenue, where archaeologists and conservation agencies have carried out studies. It is a paleo-metallurgical site where several thousand shards of ceramics, iron tools, pottery, and an iron spatula weighing 9 kilograms (20 lb) have been unearthed. Its dating, compared with similar sites in Nigeria and Sudan, could be close to the ninth century BC.[3]

Bangui was founded by Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac on 26 June 1889, in what was then the upper reaches of the French Congo, the present-day Congo (Brazzaville).[4] The original site was 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the Ubangi rapids. Its territory was organized first into the territory of the Upper Ubangi (Haut-Oubangui) and then as the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari.[5] The initial capitals of these areas were at les Abiras and Fort de Possel further upstream, but the rapids at Bangui blocked them from direct communication along the river and caused the settlement there to grow in importance until, in 1906, it was chosen as the new headquarters for the French administration. Bangui retained its importance as a military and administrative centre when the colony was folded into French Equatorial Africa and under both Vichy and Free French control during World War II. The French operated a radio transmitter in Bangui, which was described in 1932 as "the most remote radio station in Africa".[6]

 
A local woman together with Free French soldiers near Bangui in 1940

The colony of Ubangi-Shari received its autonomy in 1958 as the Central African Republic and this became independent from France in 1960. In 1970, President Jean-Bédel Bokassa inaugurated the University of Bangui.[7] He established the national airline Air Centrafrique the following year and ordered the construction of two new luxury hotels in Bangui. With tensions mounting between Bangui and Paris as a result of Bokassa's uncontrollable expenditures, western banks refused to lend him any more money.[7] Relations with the French worsened still further in April 1974, when Brigette Miroux's body was discovered in a hotel room in Bangui. It was reported in the French media that she had been Bokassa's mistress and that he was responsible for her murder.[7] As a result, Bokassa banned imports of French newspapers and assumed control of the Agence France-Presse office in Bangui.[7] By 1975, Bangui had a population of 300,723.[8]

In March 1981, widespread violence took place in Bangui following elections, after Operation Caban led the French to drop Bokassa (who had begun to call himself Emperor Bokassa I), and replaced him with David Dacko. Opponents of the President met in Bangui and were forced to flee the country. After returning voluntarily to Bangui in the autumn of 1986,[9] Bokassa went on trial. Initially faced with the death penalty, in February 1988 he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment.[9] His successor was General André Kolingba, army chief of staff of Dacko's army, who took over control from the local French military on 1 September 1981 under the pretext that the country was heading towards civil war. Although he attempted to combat corruption and control the national economy, he was unable to achieve his reforms. By the middle of the 1980s the country's economic situation had deteriorated as 80% of the revenue went towards meeting the salaries of the staff.[10] Under pressure from a donor group called GIBAFOR (France, USA, Japan, Germany, EU, World Bank and the UN) Kolingba made moves to restore a degree of democracy in the country in 1991 with a multiparty government. Elections were held in 1993 and 1994. The first round was sabotaged by the government when it was clear they would lose. Under continued donor pressure elections were held again in 1994 as before with help from the UN electoral Assistance Unit. During these elections, Ange-Félix Patassé was elected to the post of president. Since he was from northern CAR, the southern group of Kolingba started a rebellion during 1996.[10]

In May 1996, about 200 soldiers of the Central African Republic mutinied in Bangui, demanding salary increases and the abdication of Ange-Félix Patassé.[11] In the aftermath, the renegades plundered and killed more than 50 people.[11] Following this, the French troops stationed in the country suppressed the rebellion and restored the dictatorial power. After being elected, President Patassé announced a national unity government in early 1997. The Patassé government, the opposition parties, and religious groups signed the Bangui Agreements in January 1997 which were a series of measures designed to reconcile competing political factions, reform and strengthen the economy.[12] The same year, the rebel troops refused a military base in Bangui and in June a new revolt broke out.

In view of frequent political unrest the city was named in 1996 as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.[13] On 25 October 2002, several towns in the country and later Bangui itself were attacked by the forces of General François Bozizé, backed with international support.[14] Bozizé refused to accept an arrest warrant and "defected with about a hundred troops, engaged in street battles in the northern neighborhoods of Bangui (traditionally supporting Patassé)" and went north.[15] Bozizé went into exile in Chad[15] but his troops returned to Bangui and fighting continued. Peace-keeping forces were ineffective, leaving Patassé isolated, and with support from Chad, Bozizé's troops were successful in removing Patassé's government. Patassé, who was returning from Niger after attending a conference, was not permitted to land in Bangui and he took asylum in Togo, and Bozizé seized power and suspended the constitution. An all-party National Transitional Government was set up which functioned as an interim legislative body. However, the "climate of distrust continued".[16]

2013 rebellion

 
A family uses tarpaulins from a refugee camp to get shelter from the sun, with bricks for rebuilding their homes all around them in the PK5 neighbourhood.

In late 2012, the Séléka coalition rebelled against his autocratic rule and entered the city. After capturing Bria, Sibut, and other important towns, they were on the verge of capturing Damara, the last strategic town before Bangui. France and the US refused to support the president and neighbouring countries reinforced the Central African Multinational Force (Fomac).[17]

In January 2013, the rebels terminated their operations, hoping for a negotiated settlement.[17] Following a ceasefire and a power-sharing agreement, Séléka and Bozizé agreed to honour the rebel's demands for the release of rebel prisoners and the expulsion of foreign troops from the country. The agreement allowed Bozizé to complete his term in office and to include members of Séléka in a new government. It was also agreed that fresh elections would be held in 2016.[18] The agreement was not honoured and the rebels captured Bangui on 23 March 2013, forcing Bozizé to flee the capital.[19]

As of early January 2014, "around 500,000 have fled their homes" in Bangui, "almost half the city's population."[20]

On 13 January 2021 around 200 rebels attacked Bangui, killing one peacekeeper before being repelled.[21]

Geography and climate

 
Satellite view of Bangui.
 
Ubangi (Oubangui) River at the outskirts of Bangui.

Bangui, close to the country's southern border, lies on the northern banks of the Ubangi River just below a series of rapids that limit major commercial shipping upriver.[5] The only major city located on the river, it covers an area of 67 square kilometres (26 sq mi). The navigable Ubangi River, with the backdrop of lush green hills, turns sharply south below Bangui and connects to the Congo River just south of the equator near Brazzaville as its chief northern tributary. The Ubangi river marks the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congolese town of Zongo is situated across the river from Bangui.[22] The river flows to the east of downtown Bangui. During the rainy season the discharge in the river is three times higher than during the rest of the year. The city was also known as La Coquette (the beautiful city) in the 1970s.[23]

 
Map of Arrondissements and Quartiers in the area of Bangui

Close to the river, the city centre features a large arch dedicated to Bokassa as well as the presidential palace and the central market. Lying 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) further north, the heart of the residential area has the largest market and most of the nightlife. Many of those in the suburbs live in houses known as Kodros, built of mud bricks with a thatched roof.[24]

The Bangui Magnetic Anomaly, one of the earth's largest crustal anomalies and the largest in Africa, has its centre in Bangui."[25] It takes the form of a huge ellipse of 700 kilometres (430 mi) x 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), with its central point at 6 degrees north and 18 degrees east. It consists of three parts or segments, which comprise the northern, the southern and the central anomalies. The magnetic equator passes through the feature's centre. Although it is well documented, the feature's origins are not fully understood.[26]

The Central African Republic is situated just north of the Equator with daily temperatures normally reaching at least 30 degrees Celsius. Bangui, close to the Equator in the south of the country, is slightly hotter and wetter than the northern regions.[27] It has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[28] with dry winters. While the warm season is from 23 January to 18 March, the cold season lasts from 20 June to 27 August, when rainfall is frequently accompanied by thunderstorms.[29] The city is bordered by thick tropical rainforests along the river banks.[30] Several of its neighbourhoods are in low-lying areas prone to recurrent flooding. Severe rains in June and July 2009 left 11,000 people homeless.[31]

Climate data for Bangui (381 m), Central African Republic (1931–1955)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.2
(99.0)
38.8
(101.8)
39.5
(103.1)
38.0
(100.4)
38.6
(101.5)
35.8
(96.4)
34.3
(93.7)
34.4
(93.9)
35.9
(96.6)
35.7
(96.3)
36.7
(98.1)
36.2
(97.2)
39.5
(103.1)
Average high °C (°F) 32.9
(91.2)
33.9
(93.0)
33.5
(92.3)
32.9
(91.2)
31.9
(89.4)
30.9
(87.6)
29.9
(85.8)
29.9
(85.8)
30.6
(87.1)
30.7
(87.3)
31.4
(88.5)
31.8
(89.2)
31.7
(89.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8)
27.1
(80.8)
27.4
(81.3)
27.1
(80.8)
26.5
(79.7)
25.3
(77.5)
25.1
(77.2)
25.1
(77.2)
25.4
(77.7)
25.5
(77.9)
25.7
(78.3)
25.7
(78.3)
26.0
(78.8)
Average low °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1)
20.2
(68.4)
21.3
(70.3)
21.4
(70.5)
21.1
(70.0)
19.7
(67.5)
20.3
(68.5)
20.3
(68.5)
20.2
(68.4)
20.2
(68.4)
20.0
(68.0)
19.3
(66.7)
20.3
(68.5)
Record low °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
13.1
(55.6)
16.2
(61.2)
14.4
(57.9)
16.0
(60.8)
16.5
(61.7)
15.0
(59.0)
17.0
(62.6)
17.2
(63.0)
17.3
(63.1)
16.9
(62.4)
13.8
(56.8)
13.0
(55.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20
(0.8)
39
(1.5)
116
(4.6)
142
(5.6)
167
(6.6)
134
(5.3)
174
(6.9)
240
(9.4)
185
(7.3)
190
(7.5)
89
(3.5)
24
(0.9)
1,520
(59.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2 5 10 12 14 13 14 17 16 17 11 4 135
Average relative humidity (%) 70 64 71 76 79 81 83 83 83 83 81 75 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 203 201 191 184 193 158 138 138 143 158 171 220 2,098
Source 1: Deutscher Wetterdienst[32]
Source 2: Danish Meteorological Institute (sun only)[33]

Demographics

After the Central African Republic attained independence in 1960, developmental activities began, and the urbanization of Bangui ensued. This is evidenced by the population growth from 279,800 in 1975 to 427,435 in 1988[8] to 524,000 by 1994,[34] and to 652,000 in 2001.[35] Apart from the ethnic people of the country, the city is also home for a minority group of Greek, Portuguese and Yemeni traders, and also has a small community of French people. The Bangui resident community includes diamond traders from western Africa and Chad, traders from many African countries, and refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.[30]

The official languages of the country are French and Sango; the latter (originally a language from the Ubangi River region) is spoken by 90% of the population. Some of the other languages spoken are Baya (Gbaya), Banda, Ngbaka, Sara, Mbum, Kare, and Mandjia. Sango was simplified by Christian missionaries and is widely used to this day.[30]

Economy

 
Local traders

Bangui serves as an administrative, trade, and commercial centre. During the Second World War the country became wealthier as exports of rubber, cotton, coffee, uranium and diamonds increased.[35] After the war, the employment of local people in mainstream administration led to the development of the country's infrastructure, which increased trade while slowing the national movement for independence.[35]

During David Dacko's presidency from 1960 to 1966, there was a significant increase in the production of diamonds.[36] This occurred when the monopoly of the French concessionary companies was ended with a law allowing local citizens to dig for diamonds. After Dacko set up a diamond cutting factory at Bangui, diamonds became the country's leading export. But by the end of his five-year tenure, rampant corruption and financial indiscipline had resulted in workers being left unpaid and civil unrest ensued. Bokassa then seized power in a military coup in 1966.[36] Concurrently, Bangui also became the key centre for social and cultural activity in the region, when new institutions were established in the city. However, political turmoil in the country, rampant corruption, and the dictatorial rule of President Bokassa centred in the city, brought in economic recession in the 1970s exacerbated by a fall in international prices for its major exports. This caused impoverishment of the people and severe conflict, further compounded by refugees migrating from troubled neighbouring countries.[35]

Bangui received its first bank in 1946 when a branch of the Bank of West Africa was established there. Arab sellers dominated the city, and it was historically an important centre for ivory trading.[37] Bangui manufactures include textiles, food products, beer, shoes, and soap.[35] The main exports are cotton, rubber, timber, coffee, and sisal.[35] Because of the ongoing strife, unemployment hovered near 23% in the city as of 2001. Ngaragba Central Prison, the national prison for men, is located in Bangui. As of 2007, it had 476 inmates; prison conditions are reported to be poor.[38]

Landmarks

 
Oubangui Hotel

The old town of Bangui has retained its colonial town planning with wide boulevards leading towards central market square.[39] Attractions in Bangui include Boganda Museum, Bangui Zoo,[40] and the Presidential Palace, formerly the Bokassa Palace.[23] Notre-Dame Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui.[41] Boganda Museum (Musée de Boganda) has displays of traditional musical instruments, weapons, rural architectural features, ancient hunting tools, pottery, and also many religious antiques. It has a collection of bark cloth, the material used to cover Bokassa's bed.[23]

There are several hotels up to international standards. The Ledger Plaza Bangui on the outskirts claims to be a five-star hotel, and has an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court.[42] The National Hotel was established in 1970 with 30 rooms. Also of note are the Golf Palace Hotel, the Hotel du Centre with 72 rooms, JM Residence, the Oubangui Hotel, established in 1985, and Hotel Somba with 23 rooms.[43]

Culture

Customs

Polygamy is an accepted practice among men. When someone dies in Bangui, a representative from his or her village always attends the funeral. "This person is charged with indicating to the deceased the way back home so that the deceased may avenge himself and herself and demonstrate the power of the family".[44] The representative who attends the funeral also carries a little dust from the grave to the village, and gives it to the village's holy medicine man so that he can ascertain the reasons for his death.[44]

Most of the holidays in Bangui are festivals related to the Christian and Muslim faiths and are the same as those observed in other parts of the world. National holidays include independence day and the birthdays of Boganda and several other national heroes.[44]

Cuisine

 
A French boulangerie in Bangui.

The cuisine of CAR is referred to as Centrafrican and the staple diet in Bangui includes cassava, rice, squash, pumpkins and plantains served with a sauce and grilled meat. Okra or gombo is a popular vegetable. Peanuts and peanut butter are widely used. Game is popular, as are the fish-based dishes maboké and soussou. Manioc flour is used for preparing fufu.[45]

There are three types of restaurants in Bangui. Some focus on foreign cuisine, such as 'Relais des Chasses,' 'La Tentation' and 'L'Escale,' which are oriented towards French food, and 'Ali Baba' and 'Beyrouth,' which serve Lebanese food. There are a large number of African restaurants, such as the "Madame M'boka," a favorite of the locals. A number of bars and street food stalls complement Bangui's culinary scene.[46] Alcoholic beverages served are locally brewed beer, palm wine and banana wine. Non-alcoholic beverages that are drunk include ginger beer.[47]

Art

Bangui's artisans' market has traditional wares representing the art products from different regions of the country. Handicrafts include woven mats and baskets, wooden utensils of simple design, carved stools, pottery, musical instruments, tanned skins, and wood products.[40] The balafon, similar to a xylophone, is made out of the horns of animals. Innovative designs include butterfly wings stuck with gum on paper, and ebony and hardwood carvings of wood from the tropical region. Artwork also covers carved animals and human figures.[40] The crafts center in Bangui provides training to about 100 students in artistic crafting in leather, ivory and ebony wares.[45]

Music

 
The balafon.

Bangui has a rich music tradition and showcases the country's music. Its musicians also perform in many countries abroad. The Bangui band groups were influenced by Zokela in the 1980s.[40] The innovative music is based on dance bands who have adopted the Congolese music with electronic support. The music is rhythmic and blends with the Congolese rumba (soukous), which was influenced by son cubano, cha-cha-cha, and merengue. Popular Central African music groups or dance bands who perform in the city are Musiki, Zokela, Makembe, Cool Stars, Cannon Stars, and Super Stars.[40] Bokassa, during his tenure as president, established a music recording studio in Bangui and employed musicians to sing his praise with songs extolling his qualities as an emperor and to develop his cult image among his people.[24]

Sports

 
The boat race on the Ubangi River in Bangui.

The most popular sport is basketball. Bangui hosted the FIBA Africa Championship 1974, where the Central African Republic's national basketball team won one of its two continental titles. Football (soccer) is also popular. Both men and women from Bangui and throughout the country have participated in the Olympic Games since 1968 as well as in many international events.[40] The locals also organize boat races with hundreds of participants on the Ubangi River, which is a significant attraction.

Education

 
People at a Bangui local school.

The French system of education is the norm and French is the language of teaching, although the Sango language is promoted in schools. A substantial percentage of the population is literate. Schooling is compulsory for children ages 6 to 14.[48]

Bangui is home to the University of Bangui, founded in 1969 by President Jean-Bédel Bokassa who named it after himself; it started functioning in 1970.[47][49][7] A public institution, the university provides non-agricultural education in the Central African Republic. Since 1981, the University Library has been in a separate building that houses its science, literature, and law collections.[50] The medical school of the university has its own library.[50]

The other educational institutions are the National School of Arts and the Central School of Agriculture, in addition to many religious and technical schools.[47]

A school in the eastern part of the city, Lycée Charles de Gaulle, was established by the French and is named after President of France Charles de Gaulle. Several notable Africans, including writers such as Calixthe Beyala, have studied in the city. Beyala studied at the Lycée des Rapides.[51]

Places of worship

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui (Catholic Church), Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (Lutheran World Federation), Evangelical Baptist Church of the Central African Republic (Baptist World Alliance).[52] There are also Muslim mosques.

Transport

 
 
(left) Transportation trucks in Bangui; (right) Bangui airport

Bangui is the transport hub of the Central African Republic. As of 1999, eight roads connected the city to other main towns in the country, Cameroon, Chad and South Sudan; of these, only the toll roads are paved. During the rainy season from March to November, some roads are impassable.[53][54] The road network in the city emanates from the Palace de la Republique.[55]

River ferries sail from the river port at Bangui to Brazzaville and Zongo. The river can be navigated most of the year between Bangui and Brazzaville. From Brazzaville, goods are transported by rail to Pointe-Noire, Congo's Atlantic port.[56] The river port handles the overwhelming majority of the country's international trade and has a cargo handling capacity of 350,000 tons; it has 350 metres (1,150 ft) length of wharfs and 24,000 square metres (260,000 sq ft) of warehousing space.[57]

The first airstrip in Bangui was built between 1920 and 1925. Bangui M'Poko International Airport is located on 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of deforested land 7 kilometres (4+12 mi) off the Avenue of Martyrs to the north of the old town, between the Koudoukou Avenue and the University of Bangui.[58]

Healthcare

A general hospital is located in the eastern side of the city. Modern health care facilities exist only in Bangui but are poor, providing only minimal care. Wealthier citizens make use of private clinics.[47] The risk of catching HIV in the city is reportedly high, and many truck drivers stopping in the city for sexual services pose a major risk of spreading the disease to other parts of the country.[59] The risk of catching malaria in Bangui and pygmy camps is also much higher than in the rest of the country.[60]

A conference of public health officials including representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization was held in Bangui in October 1985. The conference evolved a diagnostic definition of AIDS which came to be known as the Bangui definition for AIDS.[8][61] The conference defined symptoms of AIDS in Africa as "prolonged fever for a month or more, weight loss of over 10% and prolonged diarrhea".[62] The Bangui definition proved problematic as immune suppression can also be caused by malnutrition.[61]

Media

Several periodicals and three daily newspapers are published in Bangui: E le Songo, the country's first newspaper, began publication in 1982. The other main newspapers are Le Novateur, Le Citoyen and L’Echo de Centrafrique.[40] Most of the country's institutions have offices in Bangui, including French ones such as Électricité de France (EDF).[63][64]

Radio stations operating in Bangui include Radio Centrafrique, Radio Nehemie, Radio Notre-Dame, Radio Voix de la paix, Radio Ndeke Luka, RFI, Radio Voik de la grace, Radio Linga FM, Africa no.1, and Tropic FM.[65] BBC World Service is the only English broadcasting station that is heard in the city on 90.2 FM, as all other local channels broadcast in either French and/or Sango. For reliable news, the channel of UN run Radio Ndeke Luka is on 100.8 FM.[55]

Notable people

References

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Bibliography

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  • Bethell, Tom (2005). The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science. Regnery Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-89526-031-4.
  • Booth, Graham; McDuell, G. R.; McDuell, Bob; Sears, John (1999). World of Science: 2. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-914698-7.
  • Courting history: the landmark International Criminal Court's first years. Human Rights Watch. 2008. p. 129. GGKEY:PZJC9QCXFZL.
  • Eur (2002). Africa South of the Sahara 2003. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-85743-131-5.
  • Eur (2003). Africa South of the Sahara 2003. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-131-5.
  • Egyesült, Államok (2007). Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007. Government Printing Office. p. 87. ISBN 9780160813993. GGKEY:5QXCANS2SXR.
  • Doeden, Matt (2009). Central African Republic in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-57505-952-5.
  • Europa Publications (2003). Africa and South of the Sahara 2004. Psychology Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-85743-183-4.
  • Eyoh, Dickson; Zeleza, Paul Tiyambe (30 October 2002). Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-98657-8.
  • Gailey, Harry A. (1989). History of Africa: From 1945 to present. R.E. Krieger. ISBN 978-0-89464-296-8.
  • Gubbins, David; Herrero-Bervera, Emilio Herrero-Bervera (19 July 2007). Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism. Springer. ISBN 978-1-4020-4423-6.
  • Haggett, Peter (2002). Encyclopedia of World Geography: West Africa. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-0-7614-7306-0.
  • Ham, Anthony (2010). Africa. Lonely Planet. p. 544. ISBN 978-1-74220-308-9.
  • Holmberg, Scott D. (2008). Scientific Errors and Controversies in the U. S. HIV/AIDS Epidemic: How They Slowed Advances and Were Resolved. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-34717-7.
  • Jenkins, Sharron Kay (24 June 2009). AIDS: Education and Prevention. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4389-9264-8.
  • Kalck, Pierre (2005). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic: Third Edition. Scarecrow Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-8108-4913-6.
  • Law, Diane (18 August 2011). The Secret History of the Great Dictators: Idi Amin and Emperor Bokassa I. Constable & Robinson Limited. ISBN 978-1-78033-337-3.
  • McKenna, Amy (2011). The History of Central and Eastern Africa. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-61530-396-0.
  • Mouchet, Jean; Carnevale, Pierre; Manguin, Sylvie (2008). Biodiversity of Malaria in the World: English version completely updated. John Libbey Eurotext. GGKEY:EK02BYUHW98.
  • Parekh, Pushpa N.; Jagne, Signa Fatima (1998). Postcolonial African Writers: A Bio-bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-29056-5.
  • Pritchard-Jones, Siân; Gibbons, Bob (2009). Africa Overland, 5th: 4x4, Motorbike, Bicycle, Truck. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-283-5.
  • Publications, Europa (2003). Africa and South of the Sahara 2004. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-183-4.
  • Riley, Laura; Riley, William (2005). Nature's Strongholds: The World's Greatest Wildlife Reserves. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12219-9.
  • Runge, J. (1 December 2007). Dynamics of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa. During the Holocene: Past – Present – Future: Palaeoecology of Africa, An International Yearbook of Landscape Evolution and Palaeoenvironments. Taylor & Francis US. ISBN 978-0-203-93042-7.
  • Shillington, Kevin (2004). Encyclopedia of African History. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-57958-245-6.
  • Titley, Brian (25 March 1997). Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor Bokassa. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-7046-7.
  • Villalón, Leonardo A.; VonDoepp, Peter (1 September 2005). The Fate of Africa's Democratic Experiments: Elites and Institutions. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-00311-9.
  • Wedeworth, Robert (1993). World Encyclopedia of library and information services. American Library Association. ISBN 978-0-8389-0609-5.
  • Woodfork, Jacqueline Cassandra (2006). Culture And Customs of the Central African Republic. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-33203-6.

Further reading

  • Dharwadker, Aparna Bhargava (1 November 2009). Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India Since 1947. University of Iowa Press. ISBN 978-1-58729-642-0.
  • Raffaele, Paul (6 October 2009). Among the Cannibals. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-198327-6.
  • Yapp, Peter (1983). The Traveller's Dictionary of Quotations: Who Said What, about Where. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-415-02760-1.

External links

  •   Bangui travel guide from Wikivoyage
  •   The dictionary definition of Bangui at Wiktionary

bangui, other, places, with, same, name, disambiguation, confused, with, banjul, french, pronunciation, bangî, sango, formerly, written, bangi, english, capital, largest, city, central, african, republic, established, french, outpost, 1889, named, after, locat. For other places with the same name see Bangui disambiguation Not to be confused with Banjul Bangui French pronunciation bɑ ɡi or Bangi in Sango formerly written Bangi in English is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River French Oubangui the Ubangi itself was named from the Bobangi word for the rapids located beside the settlement 2 which marked the end of navigable water north from Brazzaville The majority of the population of the Central African Republic lives in the western parts of the country in Bangui and the surrounding area BanguiBangiCapital cityFrom to left to right Oubangui Hotel The shores of Bangui Bangui Shopping District Pedestrian crossing view of streetBangui special commune of Central African RepublicBanguiBangiMap of the Central African Republic showing BanguiShow map of Central African RepublicBanguiBangiBanguiBangi Africa Show map of AfricaCoordinates 04 22 24 N 18 33 46 E 4 37333 N 18 56278 E 4 37333 18 56278 Coordinates 04 22 24 N 18 33 46 E 4 37333 N 18 56278 E 4 37333 18 56278CountryCentral African RepublicFounded1889Government MayorEmile Raymond Gros Nakombo 2016 present Area Total67 km2 26 sq mi Elevation369 m 1 211 ft Population 2020 1 Total889 231 1 Density11 000 km2 30 000 sq mi HDI0 513 1st The city forms an autonomous commune commune autonome of the Central African Republic which is surrounded by the Ombella M Poko prefecture With an area of 67 square kilometres 26 sq mi the commune is the smallest high level administrative division in the country but the highest in terms of population As of 2020 update it had an estimated population of 889 231 The city consists of eight urban districts arrondissements 16 groups groupements and 205 neighbourhoods quartiers As the capital of the Central African Republic Bangui acts as an administrative trade and commercial centre The National Assembly government buildings banks foreign enterprises and embassies hospitals hotels main markets and the Ngaragba Central Prison are all located here Bangui manufactures textiles food products beer shoes and soap Its Notre Dame Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui The city is also home to the University of Bangui inaugurated in 1970 It is also served by the Bangui M Poko International Airport Contents 1 History 1 1 2013 rebellion 2 Geography and climate 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Landmarks 6 Culture 6 1 Customs 6 2 Cuisine 6 3 Art 6 4 Music 6 5 Sports 7 Education 8 Places of worship 9 Transport 10 Healthcare 11 Media 12 Notable people 13 References 14 Bibliography 15 Further reading 16 External linksHistory EditSee also Timeline of Bangui A street scene in Bangui 1912 Archaeological studies in and around Bangui have yielded at least 26 ancient Iron Age sites that contain many metallurgical tools and objects illuminating the pre European history of the city and surrounding area 3 The archaeological sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 11 April 2006 in the Cultural category 3 The site closest to Bangui is Pendere Sengue 800 metres 2 600 ft from Independence Avenue where archaeologists and conservation agencies have carried out studies It is a paleo metallurgical site where several thousand shards of ceramics iron tools pottery and an iron spatula weighing 9 kilograms 20 lb have been unearthed Its dating compared with similar sites in Nigeria and Sudan could be close to the ninth century BC 3 Bangui was founded by Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac on 26 June 1889 in what was then the upper reaches of the French Congo the present day Congo Brazzaville 4 The original site was 6 miles 9 7 km south of the Ubangi rapids Its territory was organized first into the territory of the Upper Ubangi Haut Oubangui and then as the separate colony of Ubangi Shari 5 The initial capitals of these areas were at les Abiras and Fort de Possel further upstream but the rapids at Bangui blocked them from direct communication along the river and caused the settlement there to grow in importance until in 1906 it was chosen as the new headquarters for the French administration Bangui retained its importance as a military and administrative centre when the colony was folded into French Equatorial Africa and under both Vichy and Free French control during World War II The French operated a radio transmitter in Bangui which was described in 1932 as the most remote radio station in Africa 6 A local woman together with Free French soldiers near Bangui in 1940 The colony of Ubangi Shari received its autonomy in 1958 as the Central African Republic and this became independent from France in 1960 In 1970 President Jean Bedel Bokassa inaugurated the University of Bangui 7 He established the national airline Air Centrafrique the following year and ordered the construction of two new luxury hotels in Bangui With tensions mounting between Bangui and Paris as a result of Bokassa s uncontrollable expenditures western banks refused to lend him any more money 7 Relations with the French worsened still further in April 1974 when Brigette Miroux s body was discovered in a hotel room in Bangui It was reported in the French media that she had been Bokassa s mistress and that he was responsible for her murder 7 As a result Bokassa banned imports of French newspapers and assumed control of the Agence France Presse office in Bangui 7 By 1975 Bangui had a population of 300 723 8 In March 1981 widespread violence took place in Bangui following elections after Operation Caban led the French to drop Bokassa who had begun to call himself Emperor Bokassa I and replaced him with David Dacko Opponents of the President met in Bangui and were forced to flee the country After returning voluntarily to Bangui in the autumn of 1986 9 Bokassa went on trial Initially faced with the death penalty in February 1988 he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment 9 His successor was General Andre Kolingba army chief of staff of Dacko s army who took over control from the local French military on 1 September 1981 under the pretext that the country was heading towards civil war Although he attempted to combat corruption and control the national economy he was unable to achieve his reforms By the middle of the 1980s the country s economic situation had deteriorated as 80 of the revenue went towards meeting the salaries of the staff 10 Under pressure from a donor group called GIBAFOR France USA Japan Germany EU World Bank and the UN Kolingba made moves to restore a degree of democracy in the country in 1991 with a multiparty government Elections were held in 1993 and 1994 The first round was sabotaged by the government when it was clear they would lose Under continued donor pressure elections were held again in 1994 as before with help from the UN electoral Assistance Unit During these elections Ange Felix Patasse was elected to the post of president Since he was from northern CAR the southern group of Kolingba started a rebellion during 1996 10 In May 1996 about 200 soldiers of the Central African Republic mutinied in Bangui demanding salary increases and the abdication of Ange Felix Patasse 11 In the aftermath the renegades plundered and killed more than 50 people 11 Following this the French troops stationed in the country suppressed the rebellion and restored the dictatorial power After being elected President Patasse announced a national unity government in early 1997 The Patasse government the opposition parties and religious groups signed the Bangui Agreements in January 1997 which were a series of measures designed to reconcile competing political factions reform and strengthen the economy 12 The same year the rebel troops refused a military base in Bangui and in June a new revolt broke out In view of frequent political unrest the city was named in 1996 as one of the most dangerous cities in the world 13 On 25 October 2002 several towns in the country and later Bangui itself were attacked by the forces of General Francois Bozize backed with international support 14 Bozize refused to accept an arrest warrant and defected with about a hundred troops engaged in street battles in the northern neighborhoods of Bangui traditionally supporting Patasse and went north 15 Bozize went into exile in Chad 15 but his troops returned to Bangui and fighting continued Peace keeping forces were ineffective leaving Patasse isolated and with support from Chad Bozize s troops were successful in removing Patasse s government Patasse who was returning from Niger after attending a conference was not permitted to land in Bangui and he took asylum in Togo and Bozize seized power and suspended the constitution An all party National Transitional Government was set up which functioned as an interim legislative body However the climate of distrust continued 16 2013 rebellion Edit Main article Battle of Bangui A family uses tarpaulins from a refugee camp to get shelter from the sun with bricks for rebuilding their homes all around them in the PK5 neighbourhood In late 2012 the Seleka coalition rebelled against his autocratic rule and entered the city After capturing Bria Sibut and other important towns they were on the verge of capturing Damara the last strategic town before Bangui France and the US refused to support the president and neighbouring countries reinforced the Central African Multinational Force Fomac 17 In January 2013 the rebels terminated their operations hoping for a negotiated settlement 17 Following a ceasefire and a power sharing agreement Seleka and Bozize agreed to honour the rebel s demands for the release of rebel prisoners and the expulsion of foreign troops from the country The agreement allowed Bozize to complete his term in office and to include members of Seleka in a new government It was also agreed that fresh elections would be held in 2016 18 The agreement was not honoured and the rebels captured Bangui on 23 March 2013 forcing Bozize to flee the capital 19 As of early January 2014 around 500 000 have fled their homes in Bangui almost half the city s population 20 On 13 January 2021 around 200 rebels attacked Bangui killing one peacekeeper before being repelled 21 Geography and climate Edit Satellite view of Bangui Ubangi Oubangui River at the outskirts of Bangui Bangui close to the country s southern border lies on the northern banks of the Ubangi River just below a series of rapids that limit major commercial shipping upriver 5 The only major city located on the river it covers an area of 67 square kilometres 26 sq mi The navigable Ubangi River with the backdrop of lush green hills turns sharply south below Bangui and connects to the Congo River just south of the equator near Brazzaville as its chief northern tributary The Ubangi river marks the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo The Congolese town of Zongo is situated across the river from Bangui 22 The river flows to the east of downtown Bangui During the rainy season the discharge in the river is three times higher than during the rest of the year The city was also known as La Coquette the beautiful city in the 1970s 23 Map of Arrondissements and Quartiers in the area of Bangui Close to the river the city centre features a large arch dedicated to Bokassa as well as the presidential palace and the central market Lying 5 kilometres 3 1 mi further north the heart of the residential area has the largest market and most of the nightlife Many of those in the suburbs live in houses known as Kodros built of mud bricks with a thatched roof 24 The Bangui Magnetic Anomaly one of the earth s largest crustal anomalies and the largest in Africa has its centre in Bangui 25 It takes the form of a huge ellipse of 700 kilometres 430 mi x 1 000 kilometres 620 mi with its central point at 6 degrees north and 18 degrees east It consists of three parts or segments which comprise the northern the southern and the central anomalies The magnetic equator passes through the feature s centre Although it is well documented the feature s origins are not fully understood 26 The Central African Republic is situated just north of the Equator with daily temperatures normally reaching at least 30 degrees Celsius Bangui close to the Equator in the south of the country is slightly hotter and wetter than the northern regions 27 It has a tropical savanna climate Koppen Aw 28 with dry winters While the warm season is from 23 January to 18 March the cold season lasts from 20 June to 27 August when rainfall is frequently accompanied by thunderstorms 29 The city is bordered by thick tropical rainforests along the river banks 30 Several of its neighbourhoods are in low lying areas prone to recurrent flooding Severe rains in June and July 2009 left 11 000 people homeless 31 Climate data for Bangui 381 m Central African Republic 1931 1955 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 37 2 99 0 38 8 101 8 39 5 103 1 38 0 100 4 38 6 101 5 35 8 96 4 34 3 93 7 34 4 93 9 35 9 96 6 35 7 96 3 36 7 98 1 36 2 97 2 39 5 103 1 Average high C F 32 9 91 2 33 9 93 0 33 5 92 3 32 9 91 2 31 9 89 4 30 9 87 6 29 9 85 8 29 9 85 8 30 6 87 1 30 7 87 3 31 4 88 5 31 8 89 2 31 7 89 1 Daily mean C F 26 0 78 8 27 1 80 8 27 4 81 3 27 1 80 8 26 5 79 7 25 3 77 5 25 1 77 2 25 1 77 2 25 4 77 7 25 5 77 9 25 7 78 3 25 7 78 3 26 0 78 8 Average low C F 19 5 67 1 20 2 68 4 21 3 70 3 21 4 70 5 21 1 70 0 19 7 67 5 20 3 68 5 20 3 68 5 20 2 68 4 20 2 68 4 20 0 68 0 19 3 66 7 20 3 68 5 Record low C F 13 0 55 4 13 1 55 6 16 2 61 2 14 4 57 9 16 0 60 8 16 5 61 7 15 0 59 0 17 0 62 6 17 2 63 0 17 3 63 1 16 9 62 4 13 8 56 8 13 0 55 4 Average precipitation mm inches 20 0 8 39 1 5 116 4 6 142 5 6 167 6 6 134 5 3 174 6 9 240 9 4 185 7 3 190 7 5 89 3 5 24 0 9 1 520 59 9 Average precipitation days 0 1 mm 2 5 10 12 14 13 14 17 16 17 11 4 135Average relative humidity 70 64 71 76 79 81 83 83 83 83 81 75 77Mean monthly sunshine hours 203 201 191 184 193 158 138 138 143 158 171 220 2 098Source 1 Deutscher Wetterdienst 32 Source 2 Danish Meteorological Institute sun only 33 Demographics EditAfter the Central African Republic attained independence in 1960 developmental activities began and the urbanization of Bangui ensued This is evidenced by the population growth from 279 800 in 1975 to 427 435 in 1988 8 to 524 000 by 1994 34 and to 652 000 in 2001 35 Apart from the ethnic people of the country the city is also home for a minority group of Greek Portuguese and Yemeni traders and also has a small community of French people The Bangui resident community includes diamond traders from western Africa and Chad traders from many African countries and refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria 30 The official languages of the country are French and Sango the latter originally a language from the Ubangi River region is spoken by 90 of the population Some of the other languages spoken are Baya Gbaya Banda Ngbaka Sara Mbum Kare and Mandjia Sango was simplified by Christian missionaries and is widely used to this day 30 Economy Edit Local traders Bangui serves as an administrative trade and commercial centre During the Second World War the country became wealthier as exports of rubber cotton coffee uranium and diamonds increased 35 After the war the employment of local people in mainstream administration led to the development of the country s infrastructure which increased trade while slowing the national movement for independence 35 During David Dacko s presidency from 1960 to 1966 there was a significant increase in the production of diamonds 36 This occurred when the monopoly of the French concessionary companies was ended with a law allowing local citizens to dig for diamonds After Dacko set up a diamond cutting factory at Bangui diamonds became the country s leading export But by the end of his five year tenure rampant corruption and financial indiscipline had resulted in workers being left unpaid and civil unrest ensued Bokassa then seized power in a military coup in 1966 36 Concurrently Bangui also became the key centre for social and cultural activity in the region when new institutions were established in the city However political turmoil in the country rampant corruption and the dictatorial rule of President Bokassa centred in the city brought in economic recession in the 1970s exacerbated by a fall in international prices for its major exports This caused impoverishment of the people and severe conflict further compounded by refugees migrating from troubled neighbouring countries 35 Bangui received its first bank in 1946 when a branch of the Bank of West Africa was established there Arab sellers dominated the city and it was historically an important centre for ivory trading 37 Bangui manufactures include textiles food products beer shoes and soap 35 The main exports are cotton rubber timber coffee and sisal 35 Because of the ongoing strife unemployment hovered near 23 in the city as of 2001 update Ngaragba Central Prison the national prison for men is located in Bangui As of 2007 update it had 476 inmates prison conditions are reported to be poor 38 Landmarks Edit Oubangui Hotel The old town of Bangui has retained its colonial town planning with wide boulevards leading towards central market square 39 Attractions in Bangui include Boganda Museum Bangui Zoo 40 and the Presidential Palace formerly the Bokassa Palace 23 Notre Dame Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui 41 Boganda Museum Musee de Boganda has displays of traditional musical instruments weapons rural architectural features ancient hunting tools pottery and also many religious antiques It has a collection of bark cloth the material used to cover Bokassa s bed 23 There are several hotels up to international standards The Ledger Plaza Bangui on the outskirts claims to be a five star hotel and has an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court 42 The National Hotel was established in 1970 with 30 rooms Also of note are the Golf Palace Hotel the Hotel du Centre with 72 rooms JM Residence the Oubangui Hotel established in 1985 and Hotel Somba with 23 rooms 43 Culture EditCustoms Edit Polygamy is an accepted practice among men When someone dies in Bangui a representative from his or her village always attends the funeral This person is charged with indicating to the deceased the way back home so that the deceased may avenge himself and herself and demonstrate the power of the family 44 The representative who attends the funeral also carries a little dust from the grave to the village and gives it to the village s holy medicine man so that he can ascertain the reasons for his death 44 Most of the holidays in Bangui are festivals related to the Christian and Muslim faiths and are the same as those observed in other parts of the world National holidays include independence day and the birthdays of Boganda and several other national heroes 44 Cuisine Edit A French boulangerie in Bangui The cuisine of CAR is referred to as Centrafrican and the staple diet in Bangui includes cassava rice squash pumpkins and plantains served with a sauce and grilled meat Okra or gombo is a popular vegetable Peanuts and peanut butter are widely used Game is popular as are the fish based dishes maboke and soussou Manioc flour is used for preparing fufu 45 There are three types of restaurants in Bangui Some focus on foreign cuisine such as Relais des Chasses La Tentation and L Escale which are oriented towards French food and Ali Baba and Beyrouth which serve Lebanese food There are a large number of African restaurants such as the Madame M boka a favorite of the locals A number of bars and street food stalls complement Bangui s culinary scene 46 Alcoholic beverages served are locally brewed beer palm wine and banana wine Non alcoholic beverages that are drunk include ginger beer 47 Art Edit Bangui s artisans market has traditional wares representing the art products from different regions of the country Handicrafts include woven mats and baskets wooden utensils of simple design carved stools pottery musical instruments tanned skins and wood products 40 The balafon similar to a xylophone is made out of the horns of animals Innovative designs include butterfly wings stuck with gum on paper and ebony and hardwood carvings of wood from the tropical region Artwork also covers carved animals and human figures 40 The crafts center in Bangui provides training to about 100 students in artistic crafting in leather ivory and ebony wares 45 Music Edit The balafon Bangui has a rich music tradition and showcases the country s music Its musicians also perform in many countries abroad The Bangui band groups were influenced by Zokela in the 1980s 40 The innovative music is based on dance bands who have adopted the Congolese music with electronic support The music is rhythmic and blends with the Congolese rumba soukous which was influenced by son cubano cha cha cha and merengue Popular Central African music groups or dance bands who perform in the city are Musiki Zokela Makembe Cool Stars Cannon Stars and Super Stars 40 Bokassa during his tenure as president established a music recording studio in Bangui and employed musicians to sing his praise with songs extolling his qualities as an emperor and to develop his cult image among his people 24 Sports Edit The boat race on the Ubangi River in Bangui The most popular sport is basketball Bangui hosted the FIBA Africa Championship 1974 where the Central African Republic s national basketball team won one of its two continental titles Football soccer is also popular Both men and women from Bangui and throughout the country have participated in the Olympic Games since 1968 as well as in many international events 40 The locals also organize boat races with hundreds of participants on the Ubangi River which is a significant attraction Education Edit People at a Bangui local school The French system of education is the norm and French is the language of teaching although the Sango language is promoted in schools A substantial percentage of the population is literate Schooling is compulsory for children ages 6 to 14 48 Bangui is home to the University of Bangui founded in 1969 by President Jean Bedel Bokassa who named it after himself it started functioning in 1970 47 49 7 A public institution the university provides non agricultural education in the Central African Republic Since 1981 the University Library has been in a separate building that houses its science literature and law collections 50 The medical school of the university has its own library 50 The other educational institutions are the National School of Arts and the Central School of Agriculture in addition to many religious and technical schools 47 A school in the eastern part of the city Lycee Charles de Gaulle was established by the French and is named after President of France Charles de Gaulle Several notable Africans including writers such as Calixthe Beyala have studied in the city Beyala studied at the Lycee des Rapides 51 Places of worship EditAmong the places of worship they are predominantly Christian churches and temples Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui Catholic Church Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic Lutheran World Federation Evangelical Baptist Church of the Central African Republic Baptist World Alliance 52 There are also Muslim mosques Transport Edit left Transportation trucks in Bangui right Bangui airport Bangui is the transport hub of the Central African Republic As of 1999 eight roads connected the city to other main towns in the country Cameroon Chad and South Sudan of these only the toll roads are paved During the rainy season from March to November some roads are impassable 53 54 The road network in the city emanates from the Palace de la Republique 55 River ferries sail from the river port at Bangui to Brazzaville and Zongo The river can be navigated most of the year between Bangui and Brazzaville From Brazzaville goods are transported by rail to Pointe Noire Congo s Atlantic port 56 The river port handles the overwhelming majority of the country s international trade and has a cargo handling capacity of 350 000 tons it has 350 metres 1 150 ft length of wharfs and 24 000 square metres 260 000 sq ft of warehousing space 57 The first airstrip in Bangui was built between 1920 and 1925 Bangui M Poko International Airport is located on 600 hectares 1 500 acres of deforested land 7 kilometres 4 1 2 mi off the Avenue of Martyrs to the north of the old town between the Koudoukou Avenue and the University of Bangui 58 Healthcare EditA general hospital is located in the eastern side of the city Modern health care facilities exist only in Bangui but are poor providing only minimal care Wealthier citizens make use of private clinics 47 The risk of catching HIV in the city is reportedly high and many truck drivers stopping in the city for sexual services pose a major risk of spreading the disease to other parts of the country 59 The risk of catching malaria in Bangui and pygmy camps is also much higher than in the rest of the country 60 A conference of public health officials including representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization was held in Bangui in October 1985 The conference evolved a diagnostic definition of AIDS which came to be known as the Bangui definition for AIDS 8 61 The conference defined symptoms of AIDS in Africa as prolonged fever for a month or more weight loss of over 10 and prolonged diarrhea 62 The Bangui definition proved problematic as immune suppression can also be caused by malnutrition 61 Media EditSeveral periodicals and three daily newspapers are published in Bangui E le Songo the country s first newspaper began publication in 1982 The other main newspapers are Le Novateur Le Citoyen and L Echo de Centrafrique 40 Most of the country s institutions have offices in Bangui including French ones such as Electricite de France EDF 63 64 Radio stations operating in Bangui include Radio Centrafrique Radio Nehemie Radio Notre Dame Radio Voix de la paix Radio Ndeke Luka RFI Radio Voik de la grace Radio Linga FM Africa no 1 and Tropic FM 65 BBC World Service is the only English broadcasting station that is heard in the city on 90 2 FM as all other local channels broadcast in either French and or Sango For reliable news the channel of UN run Radio Ndeke Luka is on 100 8 FM 55 Notable people EditElie Dote politician and prime minister 66 Eloge Enza Yamissi football player 67 Manasse Enza Yamissi football player 68 Andre Kolingba president 69 Anicet Lavodrama basketball player 70 Joachim N Dayen archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui 71 Nathalie Tauziat French tennis player 72 Romain Sato basketball player 73 References Edit a b Bangui World Gazetteer Archived from the original on 11 January 2013 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Room Adrian African Placenames Origins and Meanings of the Names for Natural Features Towns Cities Provinces and Counties 2nd ed p 30 Bangui McFarland amp Co 2008 ISBN 0786435461 a b c Les sites paleo metallurgiques de Bangui UNESCO World Heritage Centre Retrieved 30 March 2013 Roman Adrian Cybriwsky Capital Cities around the World An Encyclopedia of Geography History and Culture ABC CLIO USA 2013 p 35 a b Haggett 2002 p 2329 Popular Mechanics Popular Mechanics Hearst Magazines 535 October 1932 ISSN 0032 4558 a b c d e Titley 1997 p 69 a b c Central Africa Citypopulation de Retrieved 30 March 2013 a b Shillington 2004 p 407 a b Shillington 2004 pp 406 407 a b Profile Central African Republic Institute for African Development Retrieved 10 January 2014 McKenna 2011 p 37 Doeden 2009 p 16 Yearbook of the United Nations United Nations Publications 2004 p 145 ISBN 978 92 1 100904 0 a b Villalon amp VonDoepp 2005 p 146 Villalon amp VonDoepp 2005 pp 147 48 a b Central African Republic rebels halt advance on Bangui BBC 2 January 2013 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Central African Republic The 21st century Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 March 2013 Central African Republic rebels take president palace BBC 24 March 2013 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Nearly million people displaced by CAR conflict UN BBC News 3 January 2014 Retrieved 4 January 2014 Bullets and panic rebels attack Central African Republic capital 13 January 2021 Pritchard Jones amp Gibbons 2009 p 43 a b c Ham 2010 p 544 a b Doeden2009 pp 16 26 28 Antoine L A G Reimold W U Tessema A 1999 The Bangui Magnetic Anomaly Revisited PDF Proceedings 62nd Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston 34 A9 Bibcode 1999M amp PSA 34Q 9A Retrieved 11 April 2013 Gubbins amp Herrero Bervera 2007 p 39 African Bonanza at Bangui Zimbio com sourced from Voyage Africa net 29 July 2012 Archived from the original on 31 July 2013 Climate Bangui Climate graph Temperature graph Climate table Climate Data org Retrieved 21 October 2013 Average Weather For Bangui Central African Republic Weatherspark com Retrieved 31 July 2013 a b c Central African Republic The arts and cultural institutions Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 March 2013 Centrafrique inondations a Bangui pres de 11 000 sans abri selon un nouveau bilan in French Jeune Afrique 7 July 2009 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Klimatafel von Bangui Zentralafrikanische Rep PDF Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Retrieved 2 November 2016 STATIONSNUMMER 64650 PDF Ministry of Energy Utilities and Climate Archived from the original PDF on 16 January 2013 Retrieved 2 November 2016 Merriam Webster s collegiate encyclopedia Merriam Webster 2000 p 138 ISBN 978 0 87779 017 4 a b c d e f Eyoh amp Zeleza 2002 p 45 a b Law 2011 p 7 New Scientist Reed Business Information 3 July 1980 p 33 ISSN 0262 4079 Retrieved 30 March 2013 Egyesult 2007 p 87 Places to Visit in the Central African Republic USA Today Retrieved 30 March 2013 a b c d e f g Central African Republic The arts and cultural institutions Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 30 March 2013 Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception GCatholic Organization Retrieved 24 July 2013 Ledger Plaza Bangui Laico Hotels Archived from the original on 28 March 2013 Retrieved 1 April 2013 Benavides amp Perez Ducy 2002 p 87 a b c Woodfork 2006 p 145 a b Postal Telegraph and Telephone Workers International 1959 PTTI Bulletin Ham 2010 pp 544 45 a b c d Central African Republic Health and welfare Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 March 2013 Central African Republic Education System scholaro com Retrieved 25 June 2021 University of Bangui University of Bangui Official Site Retrieved 30 March 2013 a b Wedeworth 1993 p 186 Parekh amp Jagne 1998 p 76 J Gordon Melton Martin Baumann Religions of the World A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices ABC CLIO USA 2010 p 531 532 Eur 2003 pp 200 202 Booth et al 1999 p 57 a b Ham 2010 p 547 Central African Republic Finance and trade Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 March 2013 Eur 2003 p p200 202 Runge 2007 p 279 Bethell 2005 p 113 Mouchet Carnevale amp Manguin 2008 p 117 a b Jenkins 2009 p 4 Holmberg 2008 p 50 Eur 2003 p 200 202 Riley amp Riley 2005 p 44 Benavides amp Perez Ducy 2002 p 82 Jeune Afrique L intelligent Issues 2307 2320 Groupe Jeune Afrique 2005 p 17 Central African Republic E Enza Yamissi Profile with news career statistics and history Soccerway int soccerway com Retrieved 25 June 2021 Central African Republic M Enza Yamissi Profile with news career statistics and history Soccerway int soccerway com Retrieved 25 June 2021 Britannica Book of the Year 2011 Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc 2011 p 139 ISBN 9781615355006 Anicet Lavodrama Sports Africa Live live sportsafrica org Retrieved 25 June 2021 Cheney David M Archbishop Joachim N Dayen Catholic Hierarchy catholic hierarchy org Retrieved 25 June 2021 Haylett Trevor 28 June 1995 Tauziat reclaims the tricolore from Pierce The Independent Retrieved 25 June 2021 Romain Sato ESPN Bibliography EditSee also Bibliography of the history of Bangui Benavides David Diaz Perez Ducy Ellen 1 January 2002 Tourism in the Least Developed Countries in French World Tourism Organization ISBN 978 92 844 0451 3 Bethell Tom 2005 The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science Regnery Publishing p 113 ISBN 978 0 89526 031 4 Booth Graham McDuell G R McDuell Bob Sears John 1999 World of Science 2 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 914698 7 Courting history the landmark International Criminal Court s first years Human Rights Watch 2008 p 129 GGKEY PZJC9QCXFZL Eur 2002 Africa South of the Sahara 2003 Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 1 85743 131 5 Eur 2003 Africa South of the Sahara 2003 Psychology Press ISBN 978 1 85743 131 5 Egyesult Allamok 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007 Government Printing Office p 87 ISBN 9780160813993 GGKEY 5QXCANS2SXR Doeden Matt 2009 Central African Republic in Pictures Twenty First Century Books p 16 ISBN 978 1 57505 952 5 Europa Publications 2003 Africa and South of the Sahara 2004 Psychology Press p 212 ISBN 978 1 85743 183 4 Eyoh Dickson Zeleza Paul Tiyambe 30 October 2002 Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century African History Routledge ISBN 978 0 203 98657 8 Gailey Harry A 1989 History of Africa From 1945 to present R E Krieger ISBN 978 0 89464 296 8 Gubbins David Herrero Bervera Emilio Herrero Bervera 19 July 2007 Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Springer ISBN 978 1 4020 4423 6 Haggett Peter 2002 Encyclopedia of World Geography West Africa Marshall Cavendish ISBN 978 0 7614 7306 0 Ham Anthony 2010 Africa Lonely Planet p 544 ISBN 978 1 74220 308 9 Holmberg Scott D 2008 Scientific Errors and Controversies in the U S HIV AIDS Epidemic How They Slowed Advances and Were Resolved Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 34717 7 Jenkins Sharron Kay 24 June 2009 AIDS Education and Prevention AuthorHouse ISBN 978 1 4389 9264 8 Kalck Pierre 2005 Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic Third Edition Scarecrow Press p 29 ISBN 978 0 8108 4913 6 Law Diane 18 August 2011 The Secret History of the Great Dictators Idi Amin and Emperor Bokassa I Constable amp Robinson Limited ISBN 978 1 78033 337 3 McKenna Amy 2011 The History of Central and Eastern Africa The Rosen Publishing Group ISBN 978 1 61530 396 0 Mouchet Jean Carnevale Pierre Manguin Sylvie 2008 Biodiversity of Malaria in the World English version completely updated John Libbey Eurotext GGKEY EK02BYUHW98 Parekh Pushpa N Jagne Signa Fatima 1998 Postcolonial African Writers A Bio bibliographical Critical Sourcebook Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 29056 5 Pritchard Jones Sian Gibbons Bob 2009 Africa Overland 5th 4x4 Motorbike Bicycle Truck Bradt Travel Guides ISBN 978 1 84162 283 5 Publications Europa 2003 Africa and South of the Sahara 2004 Psychology Press ISBN 978 1 85743 183 4 Riley Laura Riley William 2005 Nature s Strongholds The World s Greatest Wildlife Reserves Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 12219 9 Runge J 1 December 2007 Dynamics of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa During the Holocene Past Present Future Palaeoecology of Africa An International Yearbook of Landscape Evolution and Palaeoenvironments Taylor amp Francis US ISBN 978 0 203 93042 7 Shillington Kevin 2004 Encyclopedia of African History CRC Press ISBN 978 1 57958 245 6 Titley Brian 25 March 1997 Dark Age The Political Odyssey of Emperor Bokassa McGill Queen s Press MQUP ISBN 978 0 7735 7046 7 Villalon Leonardo A VonDoepp Peter 1 September 2005 The Fate of Africa s Democratic Experiments Elites and Institutions Indiana University Press ISBN 978 0 253 00311 9 Wedeworth Robert 1993 World Encyclopedia of library and information services American Library Association ISBN 978 0 8389 0609 5 Woodfork Jacqueline Cassandra 2006 Culture And Customs of the Central African Republic Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 33203 6 Further reading EditDharwadker Aparna Bhargava 1 November 2009 Theatres of Independence Drama Theory and Urban Performance in India Since 1947 University of Iowa Press ISBN 978 1 58729 642 0 Raffaele Paul 6 October 2009 Among the Cannibals HarperCollins ISBN 978 0 06 198327 6 Yapp Peter 1983 The Traveller s Dictionary of Quotations Who Said What about Where Routledge Chapman amp Hall Incorporated ISBN 978 0 415 02760 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bangui Bangui travel guide from Wikivoyage The dictionary definition of Bangui at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bangui amp oldid 1129620861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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