Central Africa Republic: Bangui City

Bangui is the capital of and the major city in the Central African Republic. The majority of the people of the Central African Republic lives in the western parts of the country, near Bangui. Though surrounded by Ombella-M'Poko prefecture, it is an independent commune, thus administratively a part of no prefecture.

Geography

Bangui lies on the northern banks of the Ubangi River just below a series of rapids that limit major commercial shipping farther upriver, on the southern border. The navigable Ubangi River turns sharply south below Bangui and connects to the Congo River just south of the equator near Brazzaville as its chief northern tributary. The river marks the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Congolese town of Zongo sits opposite the river from Bangui.

The city centre lies near the river and features a large triumphal arch dedicated to Bokassa, the Presidential Palace and the central market. Lying 5 km further north, the heart of the residential area has the major market and most nightlife. North of the city lie rolling hills.

Climate

The Central African Republic is situated just north of the Equator and as a result throughout the year daily high temperatures rarely fall below thirty degrees celsius. Bangui features a tropical wet and dry climate. The rainy season lasts from May until October. Bangui, being in the south of the country and thus closest to the equator, is slightly hotter and wetter than the northern parts of the country.
Several of the neighborhoods of Bangui are in low-lying areas and are prone to recurrent urban flooding. For instance, severe rains in June and July 2009 left 11,000 people homeless

Economy

Bangui serves as an administrative, trade, and commercial center. It received its first bank branch in 1946 when the Bank of West Africa (BAO) established a branch there. Bangui manufactures include textiles, food products, beer, shoes, and soap. The major exports are cotton, timber, coffee, and sisal. Because of the ongoing strife, unemployment hovered near 23% in the city as of 2001.