Country Profile - Central African Republic

Religion: One-half of the population is Christian. There is a small Islamic minority of 15 per cent. Animist beliefs are fostered by an estimated 24 per cent of the population.

Time: GMT + 1.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available, although some calls are still directed through the operator. Country code: 236.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network is operated by Nationlink Telecom RCA (www.nationlinks.net) and Telecel Centrafrique (website: www.telecel.com). Coverage is limited to the capital, Bangui.

Internet: ISPs include Bangui 2000, Fateb and Socatel (website: www.socatel.intnet.cf).

Telegram: Telegrams may be sent Sat 1430-1830, Sun 0800-1830.

Post: There is a post office in each prefecture. Local postal services are unreliable. Both postal and telecommunications services are in the course of development. Airmail services to Europe take approximately 1 week, although it is often much longer; surface mail can take up to 3 months. Poste Restante facilities are available in Bangui. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1130 and 1430-1630; Sat 1430-1830; Sun 0800-1100, open for stamps and telegrams only.

Press: There are three daily newspapers, Le Citoyen (an independent publication), E Le Songo and Le Novateur (an independent publication). The weekly publications have limited distribution and are in French.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 6 months after entry into the Central African Republic required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Dem Rep), Congo (Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Israel, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Switzerland and Togo, provided travelling from their own countries;

(b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist/Business and Transit: €30 (for stays of up to 30 days); €152 (for stays of up to 3 months). Fees paid in other currencies depend on exchange rates.

Validity: Tourist and Business visas are valid for stays of maximum 3 months. For transit through the Central African Republic, enquire at the Consulate (or Consular sections at Embassy).

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Two application forms. (b) Fee. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Return/onward ticket. (e) Letter from company stating that applicant will resume work on returning. (f) Yellow fever vaccination certificate. (g) Stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Working days required: Normally 2 unless application is referred to the authorities in the Central African Republic.

Money

Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Cameroon is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency exchange: Currency can be exchanged at banks in Bangui and Berbérati.

Credit & debit cards: Not generally accepted.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros. Even so, commission rates can be very high.

Currency restrictions: Import and export of local currency from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo is unlimited; for all other countries the import and export of local currency is limited to CFAfr75,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1130.

Duty Free

Duty Free: The following goods may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age into the Central African Republic without incurring customs duty:

1000 cigarettes or cigarillos or 250 cigars or 2kg of tobacco (for women, cigarettes only); 5 bottles of alcoholic beverages; 5 bottles of perfume.

Note: Firearms must be declared before entering. When leaving the Central African Republic, any animal skins and diamonds must be declared.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 29 Anniversary of the Death of Barthélemy Boganda. Apr 12 Easter Monday. Jun 30 National Day of Prayer. Aug 13 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 1 National Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Mar 28 Easter Monday. Mar 29 Anniversary of the Death of Barthélemy Boganda. Jun 30 National Day of Prayer. Aug 13 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saint’s Day. Dec 1 National Day. Dec 25 Christmas.

Health
Special Precautions Certificate Required? Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera Yes 2 Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to the Central African Republic. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.

3: Immunisation against typhoid is usually recommended.

4: Risk of malaria (and of other insect-borne diseases) exists all year throughout the country. The malignant falciparum form is prevalent. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been reported. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Hepatitis A and E are present and hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Diarrhoeal illnesses are common. Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis occur during the dry season. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are also prevalent. Meningococcal meningitis is particularly prevalent during the dry season in December, especially in the north of the country. In March 2004, two districts (Nana Bongila with 39 cases/5 deaths and Zere with 4 cases/2 deaths) had attack rates above the epidemic threshold. Vaccination is strongly recommended. There is also a high incidence of HIV/AIDS; sensible precautions should be taken.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Full health insurance is essential, and should include air evacuation to Europe in case of serious accident or illness. Medical facilities are severely limited outside the major centres and visitors should travel with their own supply of remedies for simple ailments such as stomach upsets: pharmaceutical supplies are usually very difficult to obtain.

Travel – International

Note: There is still great political tension in the Central African Republic and it is advisable to avoid all non-essential travel to this country (especially outside Bangui). For further advice, contact your local government travel advice department.

AIR: The main airlines serving the Central African Republic are Air Afrique (RK) and Air France (AF) (website: www.airfrance.com). Both operate one flight a week from Paris to Bangui. Sudan Airways also offer a route from London or Paris via Khartoum to Bangui. There are regular flights from Bangui to various African cities, including Libreville and N’Djaména.

Approximate flight times: From London to Bangui is 10 hours 50 minutes (including approximately 1 hour stopover in Paris). There are also connections between Bangui and Douala (Cameroon), Lagos (Nigeria), and other West African destinations.

International airport: Bangui M’Poko (BGF) is 7km (4 miles) southeast of Bangui of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Taxis are available to the city (travel time – 15 minutes), during flight hours for a fare of about CFAfr2500. A bus service to the city meets all flights. Airport facilities include a restaurant, post office, bar and car hire/parking.

Departure tax: CFAfr2000 is levied on all passengers.

RIVER: The route by ferry along the Ubangi to Bangui from the Congo (Rep) or the Congo (Dem Rep) is run by the Congo (Dem Rep’s) government-owned ONATRA company. However, it is not operating at present, owing to rebel activity in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A car/passenger ferry normally operates across the Ubangi between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangui–Zongo and Bangassou–Ndu. Fares are very low, although the service breaks down frequently and may be disrupted by political instability. It is sometimes possible to hire a boat, although this is expensive. Visitors may not cross the river to the Congo (Dem Rep) on Saturday or Sunday, as the customs posts in that country do not operate at the weekend.

ROAD: Road access is from the Congo (Dem Rep), Chad and Cameroon. There are reasonable all-weather roads from Yaoundé (Cameroon) and N'Djaména (Chad). The border with Cameroon may be closed; it is necessary to check locally near the time of travel. Theoretically, all borders are open; however, non-residents can experience difficulty obtaining permission to cross them.

Travel - Internal

Note: Identification (eg residence permit or certified copy of passport) must be carried on persons at all times. Failure to do so can result in detention by police. Incidents of theft and robbery occur regularly, and armed gangs are know to operate in the outlying areas of Bangui.

AIR: Scheduled flights sometimes operate to Berbérati. However, most domestic flying is limited to chartered planes. Contact Air Afrique for details.

RIVER: Ferries sail from Bangui to several towns further up the Ubangi.

ROAD: Good roads connect the few main towns (although few are paved), but the majority are often impassable during the rainy season and one should expect delays. Most roads will require a 4-wheel-drive to render them passable. Outside the urban areas, motor vehicles are rare and spare parts virtually impossible to find. Traffic drives on the right. Travellers must carry as large a petrol supply as possible, since deliveries to stations outside the towns are infrequent. Bus: Local services run between towns; they are a cheap but sometimes gruelling way to travel. It is also possible to pay for a lift on the numerous goods trucks which drive between the main towns. Car hire: Self-drive or chauffeur-driven cars are available. Documentation: International Driving Permit required.

URBAN: Limited bus services run in Bangui on a two-zone tariff. Taxis are only available in the urban areas; they do not have meters and fares must be negotiated.

Accommodation

HOTELS: There are good hotels in Bangui, some of which are very exclusive and expensive. The better hotels have air conditioning and swimming pools. Pre-booking is essential - ideally several weeks in advance. Outside Bangui, accommodation of any standard is very difficult to find, although guest houses exist in smaller towns, principally Bangassou, Bambari and Bossangoa.

CAMPING AND CARAVANNING: Camping is available at the Centre d’Accueil des Touristes at ‘Kilomètre Cinq’. Most of the country is unpopulated or traversed by nomadic herdsmen, and there are few organised facilities for camping and caravanning. Sufficient provisions should be carried with vehicles at all times.

Sport & Activities

Wildlife: There are opportunities to view wildlife in the country’s national parks, most of which are accessible by 4-wheel-drive vehicles from Birao, in the far north of the country between the Chad and Sudanese borders, during the dry season only. It is also possible to charter light aircraft to travel to these areas. The three most important parks are Manovo-Gounda St Floris, known for its high concentration of hippos; Bamingui-Bangoran in the north; and Dzanga-Sangha in the southwest. The game population of these National Parks is impressive, although the activities of poachers have led to a considerable decrease in recent years - elephants and rhinos being the worst affected species. It is possible to view gorillas in Bayanga. There is no accommodation available: all supplies, including bedding, must be taken.

Outdoor pursuits: Travellers can also participate in archery, fishing, mountain- and rock-climbing, golf and swimming. Basketball is Africa's most popular sport and a good way to forge connections with the people of the Central African Republic.

Sport & Activities

Wildlife: There are opportunities to view wildlife in the country’s national parks, most of which are accessible by 4-wheel-drive vehicles from Birao, in the far north of the country between the Chad and Sudanese borders, during the dry season only. It is also possible to charter light aircraft to travel to these areas. The three most important parks are Manovo-Gounda St Floris, known for its high concentration of hippos; Bamingui-Bangoran in the north; and Dzanga-Sangha in the southwest. The game population of these National Parks is impressive, although the activities of poachers have led to a considerable decrease in recent years - elephants and rhinos being the worst affected species. It is possible to view gorillas in Bayanga. There is no accommodation available: all supplies, including bedding, must be taken.

Outdoor pursuits: Travellers can also participate in archery, fishing, mountain- and rock-climbing, golf and swimming. Basketball is Africa's most popular sport and a good way to forge connections with the people of the Central African Republic.

Social Profile

Food & Drink: Western food is only available in the capital, Bangui. Most of the top-class hotels have good restaurants. The standard of these restaurants is high, but they do tend to be expensive. Otherwise travellers must call at local villages and barter for provisions. Local food is basic. Many dishes contain okra (gombo), although other popular ingredients include rice, bananas and cassava. Bars are numerous in Bangui with both table and counter service. Drinking and smoking are not encouraged in Muslim society; in Muslim areas, drinking is best done in private. Elsewhere, there are numerous beer halls offering beverages of a high standard. Two of the most popular brews are palm wine and banana wine.

Nightlife: The few hotels in Bangui have expensive clubs catering for tourists and businessmen; local nightlife is centred on the district known as ‘Kilomètre Cinq’.

Shopping: Bangui has reasonable shopping facilities, notably for ebony, gold jewellery, butterfly collections and objets d’arts made from butterfly wings. However, one of the best methods of finding bargain souvenirs is by bartering with villagers outside the urban areas for their handmade goods. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1600-1900. Some shops close on Monday. The market in Bangui is open 0730-dusk.

Special Events: The Central African Republic celebrates all Christian festivals and, in the north, all Muslim ones. New Year’s Day is also a day of celebration throughout the country.

Social Conventions: Dress is informal. Care should be taken to dress modestly in Muslim areas, and Muslim customs should be respected and observed; visitors should not, for instance, show the soles of their feet when sitting. Shorts are also generally frowned upon, and women are expected to dress modestly. It is customary to shake hands. Women are strictly segregated, especially in towns. In Muslim areas, visitors should not smoke or drink in public during Ramadan. Photography: Film is expensive and should be sent abroad for developing. Show caution and discretion when photographing local people; ask for permission. Do not photograph military installations or government buildings. Tipping: 10 per cent is appropriate for most services.

Business Profile

Economy: Agriculture, upon which most of the population depends, is concentrated on subsistence crops plus coffee, cotton and wood as cash crops for export. Livestock and tobacco are also exported. The main cash earner is timber, which has been heavily exploited with little government restriction. The country’s mining industry is largely devoted to diamonds; a small quantity of gold is also produced. Other deposits, including uranium, copper, manganese and iron ore, are yet to be exploited. The small manufacturing sector is devoted to the processing of primary products to produce food and drinks, wood products and textiles. The overall economic development of the Central African Republic has been limited by an adverse climate, poor infrastructure and low world commodity prices. With a per capita annual income of just US$260, the Central African Republic is one of Africa’s poorest countries; the economy grew at a modest 1.5 per cent in 2001. The Central African Republic is a member of the Central African Economic and Customs Union (CEEAC), the main regional trading organisation. France provides extensive economic and financial aid, and is the country’s main trading partner. Belgium and Luxembourg are both important export markets.

Business: A knowledge of French is essential. Interpreter and translation services may be available at large hotels. Business cards should be in French and English. Formal wear is expected (suits and ties for men). The best months for business visits are between November and May. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.

Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie, des Mines et de l’Artisanat (CCIMA), Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, BP 823, Bangui (tel: 611 668; fax: 613 570; e-mail: ccici@africaonline.co.ci).

Climate

Climate: Hot all year with a defined dry season. Especially hot in the north, with greater humidity in the south. The rainy season is mainly from May to October. Heavy rainfall is typical in the southwestern forest areas.

Required clothing: Linens and tropical waterproof clothing.