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
Seat	Bangui
Term length	Seven years, renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the Central African Republic
Inaugural holder	David Dacko
Formation	12 December 1960; 65 years ago (1960-12-12) 21 September 1979; 46 years ago (1979-09-21) (office reestablished)
Salary	€3,049 monthly

The Central African Republic is a country in Africa. It has had several leaders since it became independent from France on August 13, 1960. These leaders are called heads of state or presidents. This list tells you about the people who have held this important role.

Some leaders, like Jean-Bédel Bokassa, were in charge without being formally elected at first. Others, like David Dacko, André Kolingba, Ange-Félix Patassé, and François Bozizé, were elected by the people at some point.

André Kolingba is special because he is the only former head of state who willingly stepped down after a democratic election in 1993.

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

Understanding the Presidents of the Central African Republic
See also

Understanding the Presidents of the Central African Republic

How Leaders Are Chosen

Before the 2023 constitution, if the president's position became empty, the leader of the National Assembly would take over. This is like a backup plan for leadership.

How Long Presidents Serve

Before the 2023 constitution, a president could only serve two terms. However, no president actually reached this limit. The 2023 constitution changed this. It removed the term limits and made the presidential term longer, from five years to seven years.

A Look at Past Presidents

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 (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political affiliation		Notes
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political affiliation		Notes
Central African Republic (1960–1976)
—		David Dacko (1930–2003) President of the Provisional Government	—	14 August 1960	12 December 1960	5 years, 140 days		MESAN	Dacko was the leader of the government before the country became independent. He became the first president when the Central African Republic gained independence.
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 from Dacko in a sudden change of leadership. He later changed his name and converted to Islam.
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 very large amount of money on his coronation ceremony in 1977.
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, the Central African Democratic Union (UDC), which became the only party in the country at that time.
3		David Dacko (1930–2003) President	1981	21 September 1979	1 September 1981	1 year, 345 days		UDC
—		André Kolingba (1936–2010) Chairman of the Military Committee of National Recovery	—	1 September 1981	21 September 1985	12 years, 51 days		Military	Kolingba took control from Dacko in a change of leadership. There was an attempt by Ange-Félix Patassé and François Bozizé to take control from Kolingba in 1982, but it did not succeed.
—		André Kolingba (1936–2010) President and head of state		21 September 1985	21 November 1986			Military	Kolingba established the Central African Democratic Rally (RDC) as the country's only party in May 1986.
—		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 by François Bozizé to take control from Patassé in 2001, but it did not succeed.
6		François Bozizé (born 1946) President	2005 2011	15 March 2003	24 March 2013	10 years, 9 days		Military	Bozizé became president after a change in leadership from Patassé. He then appointed Abel Goumba as prime minister. Goumba had been a leader before, in 1959.
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 group called Séléka during a time of conflict in the country.
—		Michel Djotodia (born 1949) Head of State of the Transition	—	18 August 2013	10 January 2014	292 days		Military
—		Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet (born 1972) Acting Head of State of the Transition	—	10 January 2014	23 January 2014	13 days		RPR	Nguendet became the acting leader after Djotodia stepped down because of ongoing challenges in the country.
—		Catherine Samba-Panza (born 1954) Head of State of the Transition	—	23 January 2014	30 March 2016	2 years, 67 days		Independent	Samba-Panza made history as the first female head of state of the Central African Republic.
8		Faustin-Archange Touadéra (born 1957) President	2015–16 2020–21 2025	30 March 2016	Incumbent	9 years, 298 days		Independent	Before becoming president, Touadéra was the prime minister under Bozizé from 2008 to 2013.
8		Faustin-Archange Touadéra (born 1957) President	2015–16 2020–21 2025	30 March 2016	Incumbent	9 years, 298 days		MCU