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History of Central African Republic Timeline
(c. 1000 CE – Present)The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked nation in central Africa whose history spans ancient settlement by indigenous peoples, French colonial rule as Ubangi-Shari, independence in 1960, decades of political instability marked by coups and dictatorships—including Jean-Bédel Bokassa's self-proclaimed empire—and recent civil conflicts involving armed groups that have shaped its turbulent path toward peace. More Less
Early History
Overlapping empires settle the territory
700
From at least the 7th century onward, the territory of modern Central African Republic was settled by overlapping empires including the Kanem-Bornu, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, and Dafour groups based around Lake Chad and along the Upper Nile.
Image source: Kanem–Bornu Empire
Muslim slave traders raid the region
1500 - 1700
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Muslim slave traders began to raid the region, shipping captives to the Mediterranean coast, Europe, Arabia, the Western Hemisphere, or slave ports and factories along the West African coast.
Image source: Slavery in Africa
Bangassou Kingdom established
1700
During the 18th century, the Bandia-Nzakara peoples established the Bangassou Kingdom along the Ubangi river.
Image source: Bangassou
New population migrations into the area
1800 - 1900
Population migration in the 18th and 19th centuries brought new migrants into the area, including the Zande, Banda, and Baya-Mandjia peoples.
Image source: Azande people
Slave state of Dar al-Kuti
1830 - 1900
The slave state of Dar al-Kuti was located on the northern extreme of the modern border, existing until it was brought under French colonial rule in the late 19th century.
Image source: Dar al Kuti
Colonial Era
Rabih az-Zubayr governs Upper-Oubangui
1875
In 1875, the Sudanese sultan Rabih az-Zubayr governed Upper-Oubangui, which included present-day Central African Republic.
Image source: Rabih az-Zubayr
European occupation begins during Scramble for Africa
1885
The European occupation of Central African territory began in the late 19th century during the Scramble for Africa. Europeans, primarily the French, German, and Belgians, arrived in the area in 1885.
Image source: Scramble for Africa
France claims right bank of Oubangui River
1887
France asserted its legal claim to the area through an 1887 convention with the Congo Free State, privately owned by Leopold II of Belgium, which accepted French possession of the right bank of the Oubangui River.
Image source: Ubangi-Shari
French trading post founded at Bangui
1889
In 1889, the French established a trading post on the Ubangi River at Bangui, which would later grow into the capital of the Central African Republic.
Image source: Bangui
De Brazza's expeditions expand French Congo
1890 - 1891
De Brazza sent expeditions up the Sangha River in south-western CAR, up the center of the Ubangi basin toward Lake Chad, and eastward toward the Nile, intending to expand the borders of the French Congo to link up other French territories in Africa.
Image source: Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
Key Facts
- The territory was colonized by France in the late 19th century as part of French Equatorial Africa under the name Ubangi-Shari.
- The Central African Republic gained independence from France on August 13, 1960, with Barthélemy Boganda's protégé David Dacko becoming its first president.
- Jean-Bédel Bokassa seized power in 1966, declared himself Emperor of the Central African Empire in 1976, and was overthrown in a 1979 French-backed coup.
- Anger over perceived marginalization fueled rebellions, including the 2003 coup by François Bozizé and the outbreak of civil war in 2012–2013 between mostly Muslim Séléka rebels and largely Christian anti-balaka militias.
- Despite peace agreements such as the 2019 Khartoum Agreement and UN peacekeeping missions (MINUSCA), CAR continues to face insecurity, poverty, and contested elections into the present day.
Source
This History of Central African Republic timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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