The Central African Republic is a constitutional republic governed by strong executive and weak legislative and judicial branches. In 2005, 2 years of military dictatorship were ended by multi-party presidential and legislative elections. The general who seized power in 2003 was elected President in 2005. Observers judged the elections to represent the will of the people despite irregularities. The National Convergence Movement, a grouping of small parties supporting the President, won the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. The Constitutional Court ruled that 7 presidential candidates were ineligible for the election. Following mediation, the President allowed all his rivals to contest the election, except the former President. The Joint Independent Electoral Commission initially barred 261 of 970 candidates from running in the elections, but a court allowed 219 of the 261 to run. The National Assembly adopted a law allowing the President to rule by decree for 3 months (he had requested 9 months). The intent was to speed up political and economic reforms by bypassing Parliament. The state is highly centralised, with the President appointing all officials who run the prefectures.

Women were supposed to hold up to 35% of government seats, and 150 women contested seats in the first round of elections. But only 10 women were elected to the 105-seat National Assembly. There are 4 women in Cabinet. Members of the President's Baya ethnic group predominate in the national army. Pygmies (Batwa or Ba'Aka), the indigenous inhabitants of the southern part of the country who represent between 1 and 2% of the population, are not represented in government, though 2 members of the M'bororo ethnic group and 13 Muslims are in the National Assembly.

Discrimination on the basis of wealth, race or sex is illegal, but significant discrimination exists.

Lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public resources is a serious problem. Misappropriation of public funds contributed to the country's inability to pay more than 45 months of salary arrears to civil servants. Corruption is prevalent in every sector, including education. Civil service salary fraud is said to drain 10% of the monthly budget. Corruption is rife in 3 of the country's key exports: timber, gold and diamonds. Equal percentages of diamonds are exported legally and illegally. Some attempt to stem corruption has been instituted with a declaration by government officials of their personal assets and wealth. Senior officials have been suspended. Civil servants caught receiving illegal salaries are to be disciplined. The growth of salary arrears has contributed to corruption.

An increase is noted in bribery, arbitrary arrest and detention. An anti-banditry police squad executes suspected bandits without due process. The police are also accused of deaths resulting from torture.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed but restricted in practice. Access by journalists to all sources of information within the limits of the law does not guarantee access to government documents. Threats and intimidation limit criticism of the government, and journalists practise self-censorship. The cost of a newspaper at US$0.55 (300 FCA) is too high for most citizens, so that radio is the most important medium of mass communication. Libel laws suppress criticism of political leaders.

95% of the population live on less than US$1 (546 CFA francs) a day. An increase in the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has led many individuals to blame HIV/AIDS related deaths on witchcraft. The killing of persons accused of casting spells has increased.The penal code criminalises homosexual behaviour, and social discrimination against homosexuals is evident.

Little has been spent on education or other programmes for children. A meagre budget and salary arrears have resulted in a shortage of teachers and an increase in the number of street children. Education is supposed to be compulsory for ages 6 to 14, but parents are rarely prosecuted for their children's non-attendance. In rural areas the age that a child starts school often varies by 2 to 3 years. Girls and boys enjoy equal access to primary education, but many young women drop out at age 14 or 15 when social pressure to marry is exerted. UNICEF reports that 39% of girls compared with 47% of boys of primary school age are enrolled. 35% of women are literate compared with 60% of men. School enrolment in urban areas is higher than in rural areas.

As a result of students paying teachers or administrators for a passing mark on their high school leaving exams, marks have lost their value, and many tertiary institutions in other countries re-evaluate students from the Central African Republic or disregard their applications. The government has endorsed an Education for All national action plan to provide quality education.

Male teachers in primary, secondary and university levels are accused of having sex with female students in exchange for passing grades. The spread of HIV/AIDS among pupils and teachers is a very serious concern. There are approximately 5,000 street children aged 5 to 18 in the capital of Bangui. Some NGOs provide some education for street children. Few education statistics are available.

A 3-year programme of ECE is said to be available, but the Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) for the programme is only 2%.

Education is compulsory for ages 6 to 11. No other statistics are provided.

The GER for secondary education is reported at 14% (18% of boys, 10% of girls).

Only 3,036 students are reported in tertiary institutions, of whom 53% are female. 918 students are reported as studying abroad, mainly in France (737), USA (40), UK (29), Cameroon (18) and Belgium (16). Following a strike by students at the University of Bangui, the government partially paid the students' scholarship arrears. During the year police beat university students and professors protesting the non-payment of scholarships and salaries.

There are no legislated or mandated accessibility provisions for persons with disabilities. Approximately 10% of the country's population have disabilities, most due to polio. Little education is available to disabled children, whose life is hard.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government cooperates with the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations to assist refugees and asylum-seekers. The country hosts approximately 34,000 refugees from the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who are subject to the same arbitrary arrest and detention as citizens. Between 230,000 and 300,000 persons are internally displaced. The only education available in camps is provided by intergovernmental agencies or NGOs.

The population includes 8 ethnic groups, many of which speak distinct primary languages. They are concentrated outside urban areas. The largest groups are the Baya (33%), the Banda (27%), the Mandja (13%), and the Sara (10%) and the Mbororo (7%). Political parties tend to have identifiable ethnic or ethnic-regional bases.

Social discrimination is common against Pygmies (Batwa or Ba'Aka). They make up 1 to 2% of the population and have little input into decisions affecting them. Birth certificates are being issued to Pygmies recognizing them as citizens and allowing them access to greater civil rights. But they are coerced into agricultural and domestic labour and treated as slaves of other ethnic groups. They are paid wages far below those prescribed by the labour code. Little education is available for Pygmies.

There are no reports that academic freedom is restricted, but the climate is such that self-censorship is practised. The government is reported to limit or block access to the Internet for certain journalists who are critical of the government. No information is provided as to whether this also applies to academics. Wiretapping without judicial authority is not uncommon.

Customary laws discriminate against women in inheritance and property rights. Trafficking in persons takes place, but statistics are unavailable. Trafficking in girls occurs primarily among the foreign Muslim community from Nigeria, Sudan and Chad, who bring children as domestic servants. Such children are not afforded formal education despite the mandatory school age, and they work without remuneration.

Domestic violence against women is common. Victims seldom report incidents, and few cases are tried. The law prohibits female genital mutilation, but girls continue to endure this traditional practice. Women are treated as inferior to men both economically and socially. Single, divorced or widowed women are not considered heads of households and are denied family subsidies granted to male heads of households.

Polygyny is legal but is facing growing resistance among educated women. Men can take up to 4 wives if they indicate their intent to do so at the time of the first marriage contract. Educated women who are financially independent seek monogamous marriages.

The minimum age for employment is 14, but enforcement is lax. The minimum age for employment can be reduced to 12 for some light work in traditional agricultural activities or home services.

In some rural areas teachers or principals use school children as labour on farms, to teach them how to work the land, since many students do not go beyond primary school. The proceeds from the sale of farm produce are used to purchase school supplies and equipment and to fund school-related activities. Children also work in the diamond fields alongside adult relatives. Forced or compulsory labour restrictions apply to children. There are no reports of child soldiers in the armed forces.

Workers have the right to form or join trade unions. Civil servants have exercised this right. Police forces and judges can form unions, but security forces cannot unionise or strike. Union officials must be full-time wage-earning employees in their occupations. Unions can bargain collectively in the private sector.

Civil service wages are set by government. Salary arrears are a problem for civil servants, including teachers and military personnel. Both groups are owed about 40 months of salary arrears. The government imposed a 30% salary reduction for senior civil servants and negotiated a salary reduction agreement with 6 labour unions to ensure regular payment of salaries.

Unions have the right to strike in both the public and private sectors, though the government can end strikes on grounds of the public interest. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited in law but occurs. Prisoners work for government officials without payment.

Minimum wages are set by decree and vary by sector and kind of work. The monthly minimum wage is equivalent to US$12 (7,800 CFA francs) for agricultural workers and approximately $28 (18,000 CFA francs) for office workers. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family.