angui

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures
economiques, singular--prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,
Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou,
Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*,
Vakaga

Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation
of the republic)

Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7
January 1995

Legal system: based on French law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since
January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent of
vote--PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms; note--there were 85 seats in the National Assembly
before the 1998 election)
elections: last held 22-23 November and NA December 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party--MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 10, FPP 7, PSD
5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;
note--results of election are being contested
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together
they are called the Congress or Congres

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed
by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol