Central African Republic Country Report

The Central African Republic (CAR) is among the least developed countries in the world, primarily due to chronic instability. CAR continues to be impacted by the effects of a 2013 coup which inflamed tensions between the country's Christian and Muslim communities and caused a significant deterioration in law and order across much of its territory.

There have been modest improvements in the security environment in the capital, Bangui, due to disarmament and demobilization efforts as well as a return to constitutional order. However, the overall situation remains volatile, amid weak state institutions, limited security capabilities and enduring ethnopolitical tensions. Widespread poverty and limited development opportunities have also driven up crime rates. There remains little government control in many rural areas, and outbreaks of religious violence continue to occur intermittently at various flashpoints.

Health hazards also pose a significant risk to foreign travelers, exacerbated by the country's extremely underdeveloped transportation, medical and communications infrastructure.

CAR remains vulnerable to further outbreaks of conflict stemming from communal tensions and political instability made worse by weak security capabilities. Frequent outbreaks of communal violence in various areas of the country including the Ouaka, Ouham and Mbomou prefectures have seen thousands of civilian fatalities and caused several NGOs to suspend operations due to hostile local security environments.

Although the country does not have a history of terrorism, rebel groups and militias continue to pose a high threat of indiscriminate violence. The security situation has improved moderately in recent years, but crime continues to pose a significant threat across the country and civil unrest occurs with some frequency in urban centers due to the volatile security conditions, political uncertainty, and ethno-religious tensions.

United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) peacekeepers maintain a significant presence across the country with a mandate to protect civilians in areas with high communal tensions, including Bangui, but have come under frequent attack in some areas where militia activity remains high. In recent years insufficient funding and political constraints have severly limited MINUSCA's ability to protect communities in some of the country's most volatile regions.

Air travel options are limited in CAR and there are safety concerns over many regional airlines operating in the country, leading most international travelers to utilize private charter providers for internal air travel.

Road travel in CAR poses major safety and security concerns due to poor road conditions, local driving standards and criminal activity.

The estuary port of Douala is the main port for the Central African Republic, handling about 80% of the international trade of this country. However, this port is the least efficient of the region.

Communications and energy infrastructure are basic, while the supply of electricity and fuel is subject to frequent disruptions.

There are increasing concerns over the threat from cyber attacks as the CAR has a weak defense to this type of attack.

CAR has a tropical climate, with generally warm temperatures year-round. However, the northern part of the country is drier and cooler and frequently experiences dust storms, known as the Harmattan, between November and April. The country is not affected by storm systems but flooding is a recurrent problem during the rainy season from May to October. Unexploded ordnance, particularly grenades, also pose a risk in some areas of the country, including Bangui, but many of these items have been cleared.

Numerous insect-borne diseases, notably malaria, are present in the country and pose significant health hazards for travelers. Standards of medical care and facilities are well-below those found in more developed countries and most major injuries or conditions will require evacuation to a country with more advanced medical facilities. Common over-the-counter pharmaceuticals are usually available in Bangui, although these should only be purchased at reliable pharmacies due to the presence of counterfeit drugs, which may be difficult to identify.

Political stability remains precarious in the CAR due to limited government control over parts of the country, weak state institutions and widespread insecurity. Corruption is widespread throughout the country, particularly within the security forces, and is prevalent in business practices and dealings with the government. Due to the limited government control outside of Bangui, lawlessness pervades many parts of the country with security and peacekeeping forces more focused on attempting to prevent outbreaks of communal violence, rather than criminal activity. CAR is currently under sanctions regimes imposed by the UN, US, and EU.