'Day of Memory and Pride': CAR Celebrates Birth of the Republic
'Day of Memory and Pride': CAR Celebrates Birth of the Republic
Although the country officially gained independence in 1960, December 1, 1958, stands as a crucial milestone on the way to its emancipation.
CAR commemorates two pivotal dates in its history:
🟠December 1, 1958: Proclamation of the Republic by Barthélémy Boganda. This event marked the transformation of Oubangui-Chari, a former colony that was part of French Equatorial Africa (AEF), into an autonomous republic within the French Community.
🟠August 13, 1960: Declaration of Independence
Every December 1, celebrations across the country feature:
🟠military and civilian parades,
🟠sports events, including the unmissable pirogue race on the Oubangui River;
🟠cultural activities and exhibitions of Central African art.
In his address to the nation, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra honored the Founding Fathers, expressed renewed gratitude to the country's partners, and underscored the accomplishments of the Sixth Republic framework.
"Sovereignty is not proclaimed: it is conquered, consolidated, and protected," he recalled.
In Bangui, defense and security forces paraded on Avenue des Martyrs alongside MINUSCA troops and Rwandan allies, with the president and civil society representatives in attendance.
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