Central African Republic portal |
President François Bozizé has said that one of his priorities is to get the support of the international community.[1] This has indeed been visible in his relations to donor countries and international organisations. At the same time it is difficult to have an open policy towards neighbouring countries when they are used as safe haven by rebels regularly attacking Central African Republic (C.A.R.), or when one allied country is in war with another (as is Chad–Sudan).
The Central African Armed Forces cannot–even with the support of France and the Multinational Force of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (FOMUC)–exert control over its own borders. Hence, armed groups are regularly entering the country from Chad and Sudan. The President said in an interview that he has a good relation with neighbours and fellow CEMAC countries, "put aside the incident with Sudan when the border had to be closed since militia entered C.A.R. territory".[1]
The Central African Republic is an active member in several Central African organizations, including the Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), the Central African Peace and Security Council (COPAX- still under formation), and the Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC). Standardization of tax, customs, and security arrangements between the Central African states is a major foreign policy objective of the C.A.R. Government. The C.A.R. is a participant in the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN-SAD), and the African Union (AU).
Other multilateral organizations—including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations agencies, European Union, and the African Development Bank—and bilateral donors—including the Republic of Korea, Germany, Japan, the European Union, and the United States—are significant development partners for the C.A.R.
List of countries which the Central African Republic maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | United States | 13 August 1960[2] |
2 | Japan | 13 August 1960[3] |
3 | France | 14 August 1960[4] |
4 | Germany | 1 December 1960[5] |
5 | Russia | 7 December 1960[6] |
6 | United Kingdom | 9 December 1960[7] |
7 | Cameroon | 1960[8] |
8 | Israel | 10 November 1961[9] |
9 | Canada | 13 June 1962[10] |
10 | Republic of the Congo | 26 November 1962[11] |
11 | Sudan | 1962[12] |
12 | Luxembourg | 12 June 1963[13] |
13 | Belgium | 13 June 1963[14] |
14 | South Korea | 5 September 1963[15] |
15 | Switzerland | 11 February 1964[16] |
16 | Chad | 29 February 1964[17] |
17 | Gabon | 26 March 1964[18] |
18 | Serbia | 22 May 1964[19] |
19 | Italy | June 1964[20] |
20 | China | 29 September 1964[21] |
21 | Spain | 27 November 1964[22] |
22 | Greece | 10 September 1965[23] |
23 | Netherlands | 10 December 1965[24] |
24 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | February 1966[25] |
25 | Lebanon | 1966[26] |
— | Holy See | 13 May 1967[27] |
26 | Ghana | 14 June 1967[28] |
27 | Romania | 6 February 1968[29] |
28 | Mali | 1968[30] |
29 | Egypt | 2 July 1969[31] |
30 | North Korea | 5 September 1969[32] |
31 | Bulgaria | 9 January 1970[33] |
32 | Poland | 15 January 1970[34] |
33 | Hungary | 10 February 1970[35] |
34 | Liberia | 5 May 1970[36] |
35 | Norway | 16 May 1970[37] |
36 | Czech Republic | 18 May 1970[38] |
37 | Finland | 22 May 1970[39] |
38 | Albania | 23 May 1970[40] |
39 | Mongolia | 18 June 1970[41] |
40 | Ethiopia | 15 September 1970[42] |
41 | Nigeria | 6 October 1970[43] |
42 | Algeria | 9 October 1970[44] |
43 | Austria | 1970[45] |
44 | Ivory Coast | 10 March 1971[46] |
45 | Libya | 6 May 1971[47] |
46 | Tunisia | 1971[48] |
47 | Iraq | January 1972[49] |
48 | Senegal | September 1972[50] |
49 | Pakistan | 2 April 1974[51] |
50 | Equatorial Guinea | 24 January 1975[52] |
51 | Iran | 18 March 1975[53] |
52 | Philippines | 1 June 1976[54] |
53 | India | 7 June 1976[55] |
54 | Morocco | 1976[56] |
55 | Portugal | 15 February 1977[57] |
56 | Uganda | 13 June 1977[58][59] |
57 | Turkey | 29 January 1980[60] |
58 | Niger | 9 May 1981[61] |
— | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 1981[62] |
59 | Sweden | 1983[63] |
60 | Denmark | 1984[64] |
61 | Qatar | 1 August 1985[65] |
62 | Argentina | 15 July 1986[66] |
63 | Thailand | 30 October 1987[67] |
64 | Angola | 22 March 1988[68] |
65 | Colombia | 3 October 1988[69] |
66 | South Africa | 23 August 1993[70] |
67 | Ukraine | 14 September 1995[71] |
68 | Cuba | 3 March 2000[72] |
69 | Malaysia | 2000[73] |
70 | North Macedonia | 20 October 2002[74] |
71 | Venezuela | 20 September 2006[69] |
72 | Kuwait | 9 April 2007[75] |
73 | Vietnam | 10 November 2008[76] |
74 | United Arab Emirates | 22 May 2009[69] |
75 | Australia | 18 January 2010[69] |
76 | Brazil | 27 April 2010[69] |
77 | Georgia | 20 December 2010[69] |
78 | Belarus | 4 April 2012[69] |
79 | Latvia | 30 May 2012[69] |
80 | South Sudan | 21 November 2012[69] |
81 | Fiji | 22 January 2013[69] |
82 | Mauritania | 8 October 2013[77] |
83 | Estonia | 3 April 2014[78] |
84 | Ecuador | 20 February 2015[69] |
85 | Montenegro | 2 April 2015[69] |
86 | Mozambique | 18 February 2016[79] |
87 | Chile | 1 March 2016[80] |
88 | Rwanda | 8 July 2016[81] |
89 | Namibia | 21 July 2016[82] |
90 | Indonesia | 21 September 2016[83] |
91 | New Zealand | 27 October 2016[84] |
92 | Kyrgyzstan | 21 November 2016[85] |
93 | Slovenia | 13 February 2017[86] |
94 | Mauritius | 24 March 2017[69] |
95 | Seychelles | 16 May 2017[87] |
96 | Saudi Arabia | 16 June 2017[69] |
97 | Zambia | 28 August 2017[88] |
98 | Armenia | 21 September 2017[69] |
99 | Tajikistan | 15 February 2018[89] |
100 | Zimbabwe | 12 April 2018[90] |
101 | Ireland | 26 June 2018[69] |
102 | Lithuania | 25 September 2018[69] |
103 | Maldives | 24 May 2019[69] |
104 | Nicaragua | 12 June 2019[69] |
105 | Tanzania | 8 November 2019[91] |
106 | Mexico | 4 February 2020[69] |
107 | Botswana | 18 October 2021[92] |
108 | Bahrain | 24 March 2022[93] |
109 | Croatia | 18 September 2023[69] |
110 | Benin | Unknown[94] |
111 | Burkina Faso | Unknown[95] |
112 | Burundi | Unknown[96] |
113 | Kenya | Unknown[97] |
114 | Lesotho | Unknown |
115 | Togo | Unknown[98] |
Nineteen countries have resident diplomatic representatives in Bangui, and the C.A.R. maintains approximately the same number of missions abroad. Since early 1989 the government recognizes both Israel and the State of Palestine. The C.A.R. also maintains diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The C.A.R. generally joins other African and developing country states in consensus positions on major policy issues. The most important countries the C.A.R. maintains bilateral relations include the following.
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Cameroon |
Cameroon is probably the foreign country that most Central Africans identify with, since most people live in the western part of the country, close to the Cameroon border. It is also the most important regional trade partner of CAR; most of the country's imports pass through the port of Douala, before being transported by truck to CAR. Most of the 1,450 km road to the coast is now paved, only a short distance remains. Following the increase of violence in north-western CAR in late 2005, there were at the end of 2006 about 48,000 refugees from CAR in Cameroon.[99] | |
Chad | 29 February 1964 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 February 1964 when has been accredited first Permanent Representative (Ambassador) of Chad to Central African Republic Mr. Thomas Keiro.[17] Chad is one of President François Bozizé's closest allies. Before seizing power in 2003, Bozizé's rebel group was equipped and trained in Chad. The group that finally overthrew President Ange-Félix Patassé consisted of–in addition to Bozizé's own rebels–100 soldiers from the Chad National Army. In addition to the 121 Chadian soldiers in the Multinational Force in the Central African Republic (FOMUC), there are still 150 soldiers from Chad in the CAR. The majority is found within the president's lifeguard, while others patrol Bangui and the north-west parts of the country.[100] Chad's president Idriss Déby has an interest in tranquility in north-western CAR, due to the proximity to the location of the Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project. In April 2006, the Chadian rebel group United Front for Democratic Change, which is based in Darfur used C.A.R. as a transit route to Chad, when attacking N'Djamena. Bozizé, who has received much support from President Déby, immediately decided to close the CAR-Sudan border (a decision which he has no capacity at all to enforce).[100] The border was officially closed between April and December. Already a couple of weeks later, an Antonov cargo plane crossed the border from Sudan and landed at Tiringoulou airport in C.A.R., where it unloaded weapons and about 50 armed men who spread out in the area. In the end of June, Central African military and FOMUC peacekeepers clashed with these men near Gordil, resulting in at least 30 casualties.[100] Chad had also maintained good relations with the previous president, Patassé. They were one of the countries that sent troops to defend Patassé during the mutinies in 1996-1997 and assisted in negotiating the subsequent Bangui Agreements. Following the increase of violence in north-western C.A.R. in late 2005, there were at the end of 2006 about 50,000 refugees from C.A.R. in Chad.[99] |
China | 29 September 1964 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 September 1964. However, when Bokasa came to power, the Central African regime decided to cut off its diplomatic relations with China in January 1966 and resumed its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in May 1968. The relations between China and Central Africa were normalized following the signing of a joint communiqué between the two countries on 20 August 1976. On 8 July 1991, the Central African government again resumed its relations with Taiwan. Therefore, China had to announce the suspension of its diplomatic relations with Central Africa. On 29 January 1998, the two countries resumed ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations after signing the joint communiqué on the resumption of diplomatic relations.[21] |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Bozizé has surprisingly good relations both with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila and the former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. When the old president Kolingba tried to overthrow Patassé in May 2001, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) came to his rescue. MLC controlled the northern part of DRC and its rebels were stationed on the other side of the Ubangi river from Bangui. The MLC executed between 60 and 120 persons, mainly from the Yakoma tribe and committed atrocities–including killing, looting and rape–against the population. This terror and the crimes carried out during MLC's war against Bozizé's rebels between October 2002 and March 2003 is now being investigated by the International Criminal Court, which says it has identified 600 rape victims and the real numbers are expected to be higher.[101] Most of the crimes were committed by Congolese MLC soldiers, but Bozizé's rebels, including elements from Chad, were also responsible.[102] During Bozizé's time in power, new clashes have taken place between his soldiers and the MLC. Bozizé has strengthened military presence along the border and deployed an amphibious force patrolling the Ubangi river. There were refugees from DRC in C.A.R. from July 1999 (when Kabila advanced in the region bordering C.A.R.). The refugees were repatriated following an agreement between UNHCR and the governments of the two countries in 2004. Refugees from C.A.R. in DRC were beginning to be repatriated in July 2004.[102] Currently, several hundred troops of the Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are stationed in CAR. | |
France | 14 August 1960 | See Central African Republic–France relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1960[103] Although drops in its external assistance budget have reduced French military and social development aid to the country, France remains the most important bilateral donor and the country from which CAR receives most imports. Its historic ties, its long military presence as well as its economic influence have also given it a political influence. France closed its military bases in Bangui and Bouar in 1997 as a part of its new Africa policy and relations with CAR decreased during the rule of former president Ange-Félix Patassé. France was however the first country to recognise Bozizé's government and during his time in power France has given logistic and intelligence support to the peace missions in the country. |
Ghana | 14 June 1967 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 June 1967.[28]
Ghana is represented in the Central African Republic through its embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[106] |
Israel | 10 November 1961 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1961 when government of the CAR agreed to the appointment of Mr. Ephraim Ben-Haim as Israel's first Ambassador to Central African Republic.[107] But CAR severance diplomatic relations with Israel on 21 October 1973.[108] Diplomatic relations were restored on 16 January 1989.[109] |
Libya | 6 May 1971 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 May 1971[47] Libya still plays an important role in the domestic politics of C.A.R.. Libya assisted C.A.R. in negotiating a peace agreement was signed in Tripoli in February 2007, between President Bozizé and the head of the Front démocratique du people centrafricain (FDPC) rebel movement (who is also said to have close ties to Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), the rebel group that seized several cities in northern C.A.R. in November 2006).[110] Libya was previously one of the former president Patassé's closest allies, providing him with strong military support when he no longer trusted his own military or France. Patassé granted Libyan enterprises outstanding economic advantages, such as a 99-year concession on diamonds, gold, oil and uranium all over the country.[111] It is not known whether these agreements are still valid, but Bozizé has anyway a continuously good relation with Libya. |
Mexico | 4 February 2020 |
Both nations established diplomatic relations on 4 February 2020 in New York City, with the signing by their respective ambassadors to the United Nations.[112]
|
Pakistan | 2 April 1974 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 April 1974 when Pakistan's first ambassador to the Central African Republic, Mr. Sha Ansani presented credentials to President Jean Bedel Bokassa.[114] The Central African Republic has maintained friendly relations with Pakistan, however they are not very Intense. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has paid a state visit to Bangui in 1997. |
Russia | 7 December 1960 | See Central African Republic–Russia relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1960[6] In March 2018, Russia agreed to provide free military aid to the Central African Republic, sending small arms, ammunition, and 175 instructors to train the Central African Armed Forces.[115] The advisers are believed to be members of the Wagner Group.[116] It was Russia's largest military deployment to Africa since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.[117] As of January 2019[update], the CAR is considering hosting a Russian Armed Forces base.[118] A former Russian intelligence official has been installed by the Central African president as his top security adviser.[119] |
Spain | 27 November 1964 | See Central African Republic–Spain relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 November 1964[22]
|
Sudan | 1962 |
See Central African Republic–Sudan relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1962[12] Given that Bozizé accuses Sudan of supporting the UFDR rebels who are actively fighting the Central African Government, the relation between the two countries has remained good. Bozizé even planned to visit Khartoum in December 2006, but had to cancel his trip when Chad (which has strained relations with the Sudanese Government) threatened to withdraw its military support to C.A.R.[100] Bozizé said that he was afraid of getting involved in the Darfur crisis and claimed that the solution is in the hands of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.[1] During the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), there was a massive uncontrolled crossing of the Sudan-C.A.R. border by soldiers from the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), looking for safety during periods of attacks or drought. At the same time, C.A.R. was used by the Sudanese Armed Forces when launching attacks on the SPLA. Moreover, thousands of Sudanese refugees lived in C.A.R.; at the peak of the influx, by the early 1990s there were 36,000 Sudanese refugees in Mboki in south-east C.A.R. About half of the refugees were SPLA soldiers with more than 5000 weapons, who allegedly occupied towns as far as 200 km into the C.A.R. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was forced to close its refugee camp at Mboki in October 2002, due to the high prevalence of weapons.[100] After the war, all refugees were repatriated to Sudan; the last of the 9,700 remaining in Central African Republic were evacuated in April 2007.[120] Sudan was one of the contributors to the peacekeeping force of the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in Central African Republic in 2001–2002. |
Turkey | 29 January 1980 | See Central African Republic–Turkey relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 January 1980[60]
|
United Kingdom | 1960 |
The UK established diplomatic relations with the Central African Republic on 9 December 1960.[7]
Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. |
United States | 13 August 1960 | See Central African Republic–United States relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 August 1960[124] The U.S. Embassy in Bangui was briefly closed as a result of the 1996–97 mutinies. It reopened in 1998 with limited staff, but U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Peace Corps missions previously operating in Bangui did not return. The American Embassy in Bangui again temporarily suspended operations on November 2, 2002, in response to security concerns raised by the October 2002 launch of François Bozizé's 2003 military coup. The Embassy reopened in January 2005; however, there currently is limited U.S. diplomatic/consular representation in the CAR. As a result, the ability of the Embassy to provide services to American citizens remains extremely limited. The United States Department of State approved the lifting of Section 508 aid restrictions triggered by the coup; U.S. assistance to the Central African Republic had been prohibited except in the areas of humanitarian aid and support for democratization. This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.[125]
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M. Mahomet Shendi est nommé chargé d'affaires du Soudan en République centrafricaine .
M. Clément Sevot , ambassadeur de la R.C.A. au Gabon , avec résidence à Yaoundé , a présenté ses lettres de créance au president Mba
Ghana - Central African Republic . Mr. Quashie , Ghanaian Ambassador to the CAR , has presented his credentials to President Bokassa . ( MAC 14/6 )
R.centrafricaine A l'étranger ... Mali : Ambassadeur ( résidant à Brazzaville ) : M. Halidou Touré .
Österreichischersites wurden 1970 diplomatische Beziehungen mit der Republik Gabun und der Zentrafrikanischen Republik aufgenommen.
SANE Antoine Pascal Né ... ambassadeur du Sénégal au Zaire ( mai 1972 - janvier 1975 ) , cumulativement ambassadeur en RCA et au Gabon ( septembre 1972 - janvier 1975 ) ...
"At the request of the Central African Republic's president, Russia decided to provide the country with free military aid," he said. According to him, with the consent of the United Nations Security Council committee, the Russian Defense Ministry handed a batch of small arms and ammunition to the armed forces of the Central African Republic and sent five military and 170 civilian instructors to train the country's military servicemen.
Then, in March 2018, the Kremlin issued a statement that 170 "civilian advisors" (widely understood to mean Wagner forces) had arrived in the CAR to train government forces. At the end of July, another 500 alleged Wagner fighters appeared on the Sudan-CAR border.