Introduction :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 but lasted only a decade. In March 2003, President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where lawlessness persists. The militant group, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president. Elections completed in March 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president.
Geography :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Africa
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 45
slightly smaller than Texas
total: 5,920 km
border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 km, Sudan 174 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
mean elevation: 635 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
agricultural land: 8.1%
arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 5.1%
forest: 36.2%
other: 55.7% (2011 est.)
10 sq km (2012)
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People and Society :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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5,507,257
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since a coup in March 2013. CAR’s high mortality rate and low life expectancy are attributed to elevated rates of preventable and treatable diseases (including malaria and malnutrition), an inadequate health care system, precarious food security, and armed conflict. Some of the worst mortality rates are in western CAR’s diamond mining region, which is impoverished because of government attempts to control the diamond trade and the fall in industrial diamond prices. To make matters worse, the government and international donors have reduced health funding in recent years. The CAR’s weak educational system and low literacy rate have also suffered as a result of the country’s ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, qualified teachers are scarce, infrastructure, funding, and supplies are lacking and subject to looting, and many students and teachers are displaced by violence.
Rampant poverty, human rights violations, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of security and stability have led to forced displacement internally and externally. Since the political crisis that resulted in CAR’s March 2013 coup began in December 2012, approximately 370,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while an estimated 385,000 are displaced internally. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness.
0-14 years: 40.27% (male 1,114,727/female 1,102,809)
15-24 years: 19.98% (male 553,264/female 547,308)
25-54 years: 32.24% (male 888,304/female 887,348)
55-64 years: 4.04% (male 101,306/female 120,964)
65 years and over: 3.47% (male 74,516/female 116,711) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Africa
::CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 75.2%
youth dependency ratio: 68.4%
elderly dependency ratio: 6.8%
potential support ratio: 14.8% (2015 est.)
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 19.9 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
2.12% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
34.7 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
13.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
urban population: 40% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
882 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
total: 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
total population: 52.3 years
male: 51 years
female: 53.7 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
4.36 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
15.2% (2010/11)
4.2% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 168
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 89.6% of population
rural: 54.4% of population
total: 68.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 10.4% of population
rural: 45.6% of population
total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 43.6% of population
rural: 7.2% of population
total: 21.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 56.4% of population
rural: 92.8% of population
total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)
3.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
118,800 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
7,800 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
4.4% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 175
23.5% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 26
1.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 171
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36.8%
male: 50.7%
female: 24.4% (2015 est.)
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2012)
total number: 532,518
percentage: 47% (2006 est.)
Government :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
presidential republic
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
13 August 1960 (from France)
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
several previous; latest adopted by referendum in December 2015 (2016)
civil law system based on the French model
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Simplice SARANDJI (since 2 April 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: under the new constitution, the president is elected by universal direct sufferage for a period of 5 years renewable for a second term; last election was held 20 February 2016 (next to be held April 2021)
election results: First round held on 30 December 2015, percent of vote - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12.0%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; second round held on 20 February 2016, percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 37.3%
note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015 when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (131 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held February 2016 and 31 March 2016 (next election to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 13, URCA 13, RDC 10, MLPC 9, KNK 7, independents 56, other 23
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms
subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts
Action Party for Development or PAD
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]
Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA]
Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH]
Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE]
National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL]
New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009)
chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey HAWKINS (30 October 2015)
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: P.O. Box 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 21 61 0200
FAX: [236] 21 61 4494
note: embassy operations suspended in December 2012; resumed limited operations on 15 Septermber 2014
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future
elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red
name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)
lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory
Economy :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. After a two-year lag in donor support, the IMF's first review of CAR's extended credit facility for 2012-15 praised improvements in revenue collection but warned of weak management of spending.
Kimberley Process participants partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from the country in 2015, but persistent insecurity will prevent GDP from recovering to its pre-2013 level.
$3.206 billion (2016 est.)
$3.048 billion (2015 est.)
$2.908 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 184
$1.782 billion (2015 est.)
5.2% (2016 est.)
4.8% (2015 est.)
1% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$700 (2016 est.)
$600 (2015 est.)
$600 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 229
6.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
household consumption: 108.3%
government consumption: 9.1%
investment in fixed capital: 10.4%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 12.7%
imports of goods and services: -40.5% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 58%
industry: 11.7%
services: 30.3% (2016 est.)
cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
3.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
2.421 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
8% (2001 est.)
note: 23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui
country comparison to the world: 90
NA%
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003)
61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 3
revenues: $207.1 million
expenditures: $284.7 million (2016 est.)
11.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
-4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
calendar year
3.3% (2016 est.)
4.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
4.25% (31 December 2009)
4.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
15.5% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$392.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$340.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$500.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$426.7 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$521.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$444.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$NA
-$178 million (2016 est.)
-$144 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$77 million (2016 est.)
$70.5 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
Norway 52.2%, China 14.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.3% (2015)
$375.3 million (2016 est.)
$360.4 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Norway 39.6%, France 6.8%, US 4.6% (2015)
$686.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$661.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
605.7 (2016 est.)
591.45 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
Energy :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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200 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
200 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
44,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
43.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
56.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 198
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
3,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
2,828 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 192
400,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Communications :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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total subscriptions: 1,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
total: 982,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone servi
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations as wel (2007)
.cf
total: 246,000
percent of population: 4.6% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transportation :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
TL (2016)
39 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 106
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 37
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 6 (2013)
total: 20,278 km
paved: 1,385 km
unpaved: 18,893 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 107
2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 34
river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)
Military and Security :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)
18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)
Transnational Issues :: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan
refugees (country of origin): 5,183 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2016)
IDPs: 462,476 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2016)
current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including those aligned with the former Seleka Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also subject to domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor in agriculture, mines, shops, and street vending; women and girls are subject to domestic servitude, sexual slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced marriage
tier rating: Tier 3 – the Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government conducted a limited number of investigations and prosecutions of cases of suspected human trafficking in 2014 but did not identify, provide protection to, or refer to care providers any trafficking victims; the government did not directly provide reintegration programs for demobilized child soldiers, leaving victims vulnerable to further exploitation or retrafficking by armed groups, including those affiliated with the government; in 2014, an NGO and the government began drafting a national action plan against trafficking but no efforts were reported to establish a policy against child soldiering or to raise awareness about existing laws prohibiting the use of children in the armed forces (2015)
