SUMMARY
The Central African Republic (CAR) gained independence from France on 13 August 1960. Since independence politics in CAR has been characterized by coups, and other unconstitutional ways of attaining power. The first leader of CAR was David Dacko who ruled the country from independence until he was ousted by the colonel, Jean-Bedel Bokassa in a coup in 1965. Bokassa first ruled as a military leader and later as a self-proclaimed emperor. Bokassas rule ended in 1979 when David Dacko regained power. However, two years later he was also ousted in a military coup, led by André Kolingba who governed under authoritarian rule for a decade. In 1993 CAR held multiparty elections for the first time, following on internal and external pressure to democratise the country. The winner of these elections, which were generally regarded as free, was Ange-Félix Patassé. In 1999 Patessé was re-elected but in 2003 he was overthrown in a coup led by General Francois Bozize who ruled for an interim period before he was elected president in 2005. Bozizes rule saw many rebellions and peace attempts but he was finally ousted in March 2013 and Michel Djotodia took office after only ten months President Michel Djotodia was forced to resign, after a regional summit due to his inability to provide security in the country. Catherine Samba-Panza was elected Interim President by the National Transitional court on 20 January 2014. General elections to replace the transitional government were held in late December 2015, and on 30 March 2016 Faustin Toudera was sworn in as president.
Ethnicity has played an important part in the governance of CAR. The main division has been between "northerners" and "southerners". Patessé was a northerner whilst Kolingba and Bozize were southerners. The varying regimes have all favoured people from their own ethnic group and this has led to many people being ousted from their official works when the regime has changed. Rebel groups often state the exclusionist policy of the sitting regime as one of their causes for rebellion. As part of this ethnic policy the Presidents of CAR often have a strong Presidential Guard as elite force in the army.
The government of CAR has been involved in the intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.
