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The government is a republic comprised of a strong executive branch (President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers), and weaker legislative branch (unicameral National Assembly) and judicial branch. Government and opposition party members, as well as civil society and the military are represented in the three branches, although the President appoints the Prime Minister, members of the cabinet (Council of Ministers), top military officials and managers of national parastatals. For administration purposes, the country is divided into 16 prefectures that are further divided into over 60 subprefectures; the commune of Bangui is administered separately. Heads of these administrative units, called "prefets" and "sous-prefets" are currently appointed by the President. The National Assembly is made up of 109 members elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. The last legislative elections were held in 1998; in contested results, the government's MLPC won just over 50% control of the legislative body. Recent hotly contested debates and motions for censure demonstrate the National Assembly's slowly growing independence from executive control. Local elections held in mid-1988 created 176 municipal councils, each headed by a mayor appointed by the president. Suffrage is universal over the age of 21. The judicial sector encompasses the Constitutional Court, Criminal Court, Court of Appeals and Juvenile Court, although several of these courts have insufficient resources and trained personnel to operate on a regular basis. Judges are appointed by the president; executive influence often impedes transparent handling of judicial affairs. Military courts exist but are currently only used to try military personnel for crimes committed in the course of duty. There are no formal courts currently functioning outside Bangui; traditional arbitration and negotiation play a major role in administering domestic, property, and probate law. The Central African Republic has a vibrant civil society, with numerous professional, labor, and local development associations actively carrying out campaigns and gaining greater local and international credibility. The C.A.R. Government's human rights record remains flawed. There are continued reports of arbitrary detainment, torture and, to a lesser degree, extrajudicial killings. Journalists have occasionally been threatened, and prison conditions remain harsh. Principal Government Officials President of the Republic, Head of State--Ange-Felix Patasse Prime Minister, Head of Government--Martin Ziguele President of the National Assembly--Luc Apolinaire Dondon Konamabaye Other Ministers Minister of State--Michel Gbezera-Bria Minister of State for Communication, Telecommunications, Culture and Francophonie--Gabriel Koyambounou Minister of State for Finance--Eric Sorongope Minister of Defense--Jean-Jacques Demafouth Minister of Foreign Affairs and Francophone Issues--Agba Otikpo Minister of Interior--Theodore Biko Minister of Commerce, Industry and Private Sector Promotion--Jacob Mbaitadjim Minister of Mines and Energy--Andre Nalke Ambassador to the United States--Emmanuel Touaboy Ambassador to the United Nations--Eduardo Fernandes The Central African Republic maintains an embassy in the United States at 1618-22nd Street, NW, Washington, D.C. (tel: 202-483-7800/01, fax: 202-332-9893). |
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14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga |
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14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga |
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