Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic

Date: 13 Aug 1960
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Oubangi-Shariachieved independence as the Central African Republic (CAR) with David Dacko, the cousin of the former Prime Minister, Barthélémy Boganda (who died in mysterious circumstances during the presidential election campaign), as president. On 31 December 1965 Dacko was overthrown in the Saint-Sylvestre coup by Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly. On 23 March 2013, about 13 South African soldiers were killed when they were attacked by rebel fighters near the CAR’s capital, Bangui. Another 27 were left wounded. A 14th soldier died in hospital months after the incident.

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How we know this

01Boddy-Evans, A. ‘This day in African History: 13 August’, [online], available at https://africanhistory.about.com(Accessed: 05 August 2013)
02Shokran World, ‘History of central Africa’, [online], Available at www.shokranworld.com(Accessed: 05 August 2013)
03Info Please, ‘Central African Republic’, [online], Available at www.infoplease.com(Accessed: 05 August 2013)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, August 8). Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096287

South African History Online (2013) 'Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic', South African History Online, 8 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096287 (Accessed: 1 October 2026).

South African History Online, Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096287, (accessed 1 October 2026).

"Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic." South African History Online, 8 Aug. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096287. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic." South African History Online. August 8, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096287.