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List of heads of state of the Central African Republic facts for kids

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President of the
Central African Republic
Standard of the President of Central Africa.svg
Presidential standard
Faustin Touadera October 2019.jpg
Incumbent
Faustin-Archange Touadéra

since 30 March 2016
Residence Renaissance Palace, Bangui
Seat Bangui
Term length Seven years, renewable
Constituting instrument Constitution of the Central African Republic
Inaugural holder David Dacko
Formation 12 December 1960; 64 years ago (1960-12-12)
21 September 1979; 45 years ago (1979-09-21) (office reestablished)
Salary EUR €3,049 per month


This article tells you about the heads of state of the Central African Republic. A head of state is the main leader of a country. The Central African Republic became independent from France on August 13, 1960. Since then, seven people have been the head of state. This list includes those who were officially sworn in as President, and also those who were the de facto (meaning "in fact" or "in reality") leaders.

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was a de facto leader. He also ruled as an emperor from 1976 to 1979. Other leaders like David Dacko, André Kolingba, Ange-Félix Patassé, and François Bozizé were elected at some point. Kolingba is the only former head of state who chose to step down peacefully after an election in 1993.

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

What Happens if a President Leaves Office?

Before the country adopted its 2023 constitution, if the president's position became empty, the leader of the National Assembly would take over. This was written in the country's constitution.

How Long Does a President 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.

Leaders of the Central African Republic

Here is a list of the people who have led the Central African Republic.

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 Time in Office Political Party Notes
Started Ended Total Time
Central African Republic (1960–1976)
David Dacko 1962-08-08.jpg David Dacko
(1930–2003)
President of the Provisional Government
14 August 1960 12 December 1960 5 years, 140 days MESAN Dacko was the head of the government before the country became fully independent.
1 David Dacko
(1930–2003)
President
1964 12 December 1960 1 January 1966
2 Bokassa portrait (cropped).jpg Jean-Bédel Bokassa
(1921–1996)
President
1 January 1966 4 December 1976 10 years, 338 days Military Bokassa took power from Dacko in a sudden takeover called a coup. He changed his name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa for a short time.
MESAN
Central African Empire (1976–1979)
1 Bokassa portrait (cropped).jpg 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 1962-08-08.jpg 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 UDC.
UDC
No image.svg 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 power from Dacko in a coup. There was an attempt to overthrow Kolingba in 1982.
André Kolingba
(1936–2010)
President and head of state
21 September 1985 21 November 1986 Kolingba started a new political party called the RDC.
RDC
4 André Kolingba
(1936–2010)
President
1986 21 November 1986 22 October 1993
5 Ange-Félix Patassé (cropped) in 2001.jpg Ange-Félix Patassé
(1937–2011)
President
1993
1999
22 October 1993 15 March 2003 9 years, 144 days MLPC There was an attempt to overthrow Patassé in 2001.
6 François Bozizé 2007-10-26.jpg François Bozizé
(born 1946)
President
2005
2011
15 March 2003 24 March 2013 10 years, 9 days Military Bozizé took power from Patassé in a coup. He then appointed Abel Goumba as prime minister.
Independent
7 Michel Djotodia in 2020.jpg Michel Djotodia
(born 1949)
President
24 March 2013 18 August 2013 292 days Military Djotodia was a leader of a rebel group during a civil war.
Michel Djotodia
(born 1949)
Head of State of the Transition
18 August 2013 10 January 2014
Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet 2013.jpg Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet
(born 1972)
Acting Head of State of the Transition
10 January 2014 23 January 2014 13 days RPR Nguendet became acting leader after Djotodia resigned because of ongoing conflict.
Catherine Samba-Panza 2014-09-26.jpg Catherine Samba-Panza
(born 1954)
Head of State of the Transition
23 January 2014 30 March 2016 2 years, 67 days Independent Samba-Panza was the first woman to be the head of state of the Central African Republic.
8 Faustin Touadera October 2019.jpg Faustin-Archange Touadéra
(born 1957)
President
2015–16
2020–21
30 March 2016 Incumbent 9 years, 125 days Independent Touadéra was the prime minister before becoming president.
MCU

Timeline of Leaders

Faustin-Archange Touadéra Catherine Samba-Panza Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet Michel Djotodia François Bozizé Ange-Félix Patassé André Kolingba Jean-Bédel Bokassa David Dacko

Most Recent Election

2020–21 Central African general election

Related Topics

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de la República Centroafricana para niños

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