Ubangi-Shari c. 1910. Note the borders are reduced to the southeastern section of the present-day Central African Republic
It was named after the Ubangi and Charirivers along which it was colonised. It was established on 29 December 1903, from the Upper Ubangi (Haut-Oubangui) and Upper Shari (Haut-Chari) territories of the French Congo; renamed the Central African Republic (CAR) on 1 December 1958; and received independence on 13 August 1960.[1]
French activity in the area began in 1889 with the establishment of the outpost Bangi at the head of navigation on the Ubangi.
The Upper Ubangi was established as part of the French Congo on 9 December 1891. Despite a France-Congo Free State convention establishing a border around the 4th parallel, the area was contested from 1892 to 1895 with the Congo Free State, which claimed the region as its territory of Ubangi-Bomu (Oubangui-Bomou). The Upper Ubangi was a separate colony from 13 July 1894, until 10 December 1899, at which time it was folded back into the French Congo. The Upper Shari region was established as part of the French Congo on 5 September 1900.[1] That same year the Company of the Upper Ubangi Sultanates took over 140,000 km2 of Upper Ubangi as a concession.[2]
The territories were united as the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari on 29 December 1903,[1] following the French defeat of Abbas II of Egypt, who had claimed the area.[citation needed] On 11 February 1906, this colony merged with the French settlements around Lake Chad and became the Ubangi-Shari territory of Ubangi-Shari-Chad (Oubangui-Chari-Tchad).[1] In 1909, it received the administration over the sultanates of Zemio and Rafai from the Belgian Congo.[3]
On 15 January 1910, this administration was merged with the French Middle Congo and Gabon as the Ubangi-Shari area of French Equatorial Africa (FEA). On 12 April 1916, it again became the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari, but in 1920 lost the territory around Lake Chad, and on 30 June 1934, was again folded into FEA. As a part of FEA, it was declared an overseas territory on 31 December 1937.[1]
Between 1915 and 1931, stamps were overprinted for use in Ubangi-Shari, and later specially printed for the colony.
Ubangi-Shari had a similar concession system as the Congo Free State and similar atrocities were also committed there. Writer André Gide travelled to Ubangi-Shari and was told by inhabitants about atrocities including mutilations, dismemberments, executions, the burning of children, and villagers being forcefully bound to large beams and made to walk until dropping from exhaustion and thirst.[4] The book "Travels to Congo" by Gide, published in 1927 describes the horrors of the concession companies in French Equatorial Africa. The book had an important impact on the anti-colonialist movement in France.[5] The number of victims under the French concession system in Ubangi-Shari and other parts of French Equatorial Africa remains unknown.
^ abcdefWorld Statesmen. "Central African Republic." Accessed 29 Mar 2014.
^Richard Bradshaw and Juan Fandos-Rius, Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic (Scarecrow Press, 2016), p. 176.
^World History at KMLA. "Central African Republic". Accessed 29 Mar 2014.
^Nossiter, Adam (2014-01-10). "Colonial Ghosts Continue to Haunt France". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
^ Voyage au Congo suivi du Retour du Tchad Archived 16 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, in Lire, July–August 1995 (in French)
External links
1870–1960 timeline
1891–1960 timeline at World Statesmen
March 14, 2023
ubangi, shari, coordinates, french, oubangui, chari, french, colony, central, africa, part, french, equatorial, africa, colony, oubangui, chari1903, 1960flag, coat, arms, 1958, 1960, anthem, marseillaise, source, track, before, 1916, after, 1916, french, equat. Coordinates 7 N 20 E 7 N 20 E 7 20 Ubangi Shari French Oubangui Chari was a French colony in central Africa a part of French Equatorial Africa Colony of Ubangi ShariOubangui Chari1903 1960Flag Coat of arms 1958 1960 Anthem La Marseillaise source track Before 1916 After 1916 French Equatorial Africa French possessions French RepublicStatusColony of FranceCapitalAbiras 1903 1906 Possel 1906 Bangui 1906 1958 Official languageFrenchCommonly spokenSangoEstablishment Established29 December 1903 French Equatorial Africa15 January 1910 French colony12 April 1916 French Equatorial Africa30 June 1934 Overseas territory31 December 1937 Autonomy as CAR1 December 1958 Independence13 August 1960CurrencyFEA francCFA francPreceded by Succeeded byFrench Congo Central African RepublicToday part ofCARUbangi Shari c 1910 Note the borders are reduced to the southeastern section of the present day Central African Republic It was named after the Ubangi and Chari rivers along which it was colonised It was established on 29 December 1903 from the Upper Ubangi Haut Oubangui and Upper Shari Haut Chari territories of the French Congo renamed the Central African Republic CAR on 1 December 1958 and received independence on 13 August 1960 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Concession systems and Atrocities 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditFrench activity in the area began in 1889 with the establishment of the outpost Bangi at the head of navigation on the Ubangi The Upper Ubangi was established as part of the French Congo on 9 December 1891 Despite a France Congo Free State convention establishing a border around the 4th parallel the area was contested from 1892 to 1895 with the Congo Free State which claimed the region as its territory of Ubangi Bomu Oubangui Bomou The Upper Ubangi was a separate colony from 13 July 1894 until 10 December 1899 at which time it was folded back into the French Congo The Upper Shari region was established as part of the French Congo on 5 September 1900 1 That same year the Company of the Upper Ubangi Sultanates took over 140 000 km2 of Upper Ubangi as a concession 2 The territories were united as the separate colony of Ubangi Shari on 29 December 1903 1 following the French defeat of Abbas II of Egypt who had claimed the area citation needed On 11 February 1906 this colony merged with the French settlements around Lake Chad and became the Ubangi Shari territory of Ubangi Shari Chad Oubangui Chari Tchad 1 In 1909 it received the administration over the sultanates of Zemio and Rafai from the Belgian Congo 3 On 15 January 1910 this administration was merged with the French Middle Congo and Gabon as the Ubangi Shari area of French Equatorial Africa FEA On 12 April 1916 it again became the separate colony of Ubangi Shari but in 1920 lost the territory around Lake Chad and on 30 June 1934 was again folded into FEA As a part of FEA it was declared an overseas territory on 31 December 1937 1 Between 1915 and 1931 stamps were overprinted for use in Ubangi Shari and later specially printed for the colony During World War II it remained loyal to Vichy France from 16 June to 29 August 1940 before being taken by the Free French It was granted autonomy as the Central African Republic on 1 December 1958 and independence under the same name on 13 August 1960 1 Concession systems and Atrocities Edit Ubangi Shari had a similar concession system as the Congo Free State and similar atrocities were also committed there Writer Andre Gide travelled to Ubangi Shari and was told by inhabitants about atrocities including mutilations dismemberments executions the burning of children and villagers being forcefully bound to large beams and made to walk until dropping from exhaustion and thirst 4 The book Travels to Congo by Gide published in 1927 describes the horrors of the concession companies in French Equatorial Africa The book had an important impact on the anti colonialist movement in France 5 The number of victims under the French concession system in Ubangi Shari and other parts of French Equatorial Africa remains unknown See also EditPostage stamps and postal history of Ubangi ShariReferences Edit a b c d e f World Statesmen Central African Republic Accessed 29 Mar 2014 Richard Bradshaw and Juan Fandos Rius Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic Scarecrow Press 2016 p 176 World History at KMLA Central African Republic Accessed 29 Mar 2014 Nossiter Adam 2014 01 10 Colonial Ghosts Continue to Haunt France The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 01 31 Voyage au Congo suivi du Retour du Tchad Archived 16 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine in Lire July August 1995 in French External links Edit1870 1960 timeline 1891 1960 timeline at World Statesmen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ubangi Shari amp oldid 1136661981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
