List of heads of state of the Central African Republic Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Central African Republic
Presidential standard
Incumbent Faustin-Archange Touadéra since 30 March 2016
Residence	Renaissance Palace, Bangui
Seat	Bangui
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	David Dacko
Formation	12 December 1960 21 September 1979 (office reestablished)
Salary	EUR €3,049 per month

This article tells you about the leaders of the Central African Republic. These leaders are also called "heads of state." The Central African Republic became independent from France on August 13, 1960. Since then, seven people have served as the country's main leader.

Some of these leaders were officially elected. Others, like Jean-Bédel Bokassa, took power without an election. Bokassa even became an emperor for a few years! David Dacko, André Kolingba, Ange-Félix Patassé, and François Bozizé were all elected at some point.

It's interesting to know that André Kolingba is the only former leader who chose to step down peacefully after a democratic election in 1993.

Today, the president of the Central African Republic is Faustin-Archange Touadéra. He has been in office since March 30, 2016.

How a New President Takes Over
How Long a President Serves
List of Leaders
Timeline of Leaders
Latest Election Information
See also

How a New President Takes Over

Before 2023, if the president's job became empty, the leader of the National Assembly would take over. The National Assembly is like the country's parliament.

How Long a President Serves

Before 2023, the country's rules (called the constitution) said a president could only serve two terms. A "term" is a period of time in office. However, no president stayed in power long enough to reach this limit.

In 2023, the constitution was changed. Now, there is no limit to how many terms a president can serve. Also, a president's term was made longer, from five years to seven years.

List of Leaders

Here is a list of the people who have led the Central African Republic. You'll see their names, pictures, and how long they were in charge.

Political parties

Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN) Central African Democratic Union (UDC) Central African Democratic Rally (RDC) Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) Rally for the Republic (RPR) United Hearts Movement (MCU)

Other affiliations

Military Independent

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Political Group		Notes
No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Started	Finished	Total Time	Political Group		Notes
Central African Republic (1960–1976)
—		David Dacko (1930–2003) Leader of the First Government	—	14 August 1960	12 December 1960	5 years, 140 days		MESAN	Dacko was the leader of the government when the country became independent.
1		David Dacko (1930–2003) President	1964	12 December 1960	1 January 1966	5 years, 140 days		MESAN
2		Jean-Bédel Bokassa (1921–1996) President	—	1 January 1966	4 December 1976	10 years, 338 days		Military	Bokassa took control of the government from Dacko. He later changed his name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa.
2		Jean-Bédel Bokassa (1921–1996) President	—	1 January 1966	4 December 1976	10 years, 338 days		MESAN
Central African Empire (1976–1979)
1		Bokassa I (1921–1996) Emperor	—	4 December 1976	21 September 1979	2 years, 291 days		MESAN	Bokassa spent a lot of money on his special crowning ceremony to become emperor.
Central African Republic (1979–present)
3		David Dacko (1930–2003) President	1981	21 September 1979	1 September 1981	1 year, 345 days		MESAN	This was Dacko's second time as president. He created a new political party called the Central African Democratic Union (UDC).
3		David Dacko (1930–2003) President	1981	21 September 1979	1 September 1981	1 year, 345 days		UDC
—		André Kolingba (1936–2010) Head of the Military Committee	—	1 September 1981	21 September 1985	12 years, 51 days		Military	Kolingba took control of the government from Dacko. There was an attempt to remove Kolingba from power in 1982, but it failed.
—		André Kolingba (1936–2010) President and Head of State		21 September 1985	21 November 1986			Military	Kolingba created the Central African Democratic Rally (RDC) as the country's only political party.
—		André Kolingba (1936–2010) President and Head of State		21 September 1985	21 November 1986			RDC
4		André Kolingba (1936–2010) President	1986	21 November 1986	22 October 1993			RDC
5		Ange-Félix Patassé (1937–2011) President	1993 1999	22 October 1993	15 March 2003	9 years, 144 days		MLPC	There was an attempt to remove Patassé from power in 2001, but it was not successful.
6		François Bozizé (born 1946) President	2005 2011	15 March 2003	24 March 2013	10 years, 9 days		Military	Bozizé took control of the government from Patassé. He appointed Abel Goumba as prime minister.
6		François Bozizé (born 1946) President	2005 2011	15 March 2003	24 March 2013	10 years, 9 days		Independent
7		Michel Djotodia (born 1949) President	—	24 March 2013	18 August 2013	292 days		Military	Djotodia was a leader of a rebel group called Séléka during a civil war.
—		Michel Djotodia (born 1949) Transitional Head of State	—	18 August 2013	10 January 2014	292 days		Military
—		Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet (born 1972) Acting Transitional Head of State	—	10 January 2014	23 January 2014	13 days		RPR	Nguendet became the acting leader after Djotodia resigned because of ongoing conflict.
—		Catherine Samba-Panza (born 1954) Transitional Head of State	—	23 January 2014	30 March 2016	2 years, 67 days		Independent	Samba-Panza was the first woman to lead the Central African Republic.
8		Faustin-Archange Touadéra (born 1957) President	2015–16 2020–21	30 March 2016	Incumbent	9 years, 83 days		Independent	Touadéra was previously the prime minister under President Bozizé.
8		Faustin-Archange Touadéra (born 1957) President	2015–16 2020–21	30 March 2016	Incumbent	9 years, 83 days		MCU