André-Dieudonné Kolingba was the fourth president of the Central African Republic (CAR), from 1 September 1981 until 1 October 1993. Central Africa|Central African FederationThe Central African Republic ( CAR) République Centrafricaine ʀepyblik sɑ̃tʀafʀikɛn or Centrafrique) is a Landlocked Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) He took power from President David Dacko in a bloodless coup d'état in 1981 and lost power to Ange-Félix Patassé in a democratic election held in 1993. David Dacko ( March 24, 1930 &ndash November 20, 2003) was the first President of the Central African Republic (CAR from August Ange-Félix Patassé (born January 25, 1937) was President of the Central African Republic from 1993 until 2003 when he was deposed by the rebel leader Kolingba retained the strong support of France until the fall of the Berlin Wall, after which both internal and external pressure forced him to hold presidential elections which he lost. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR ( East Germany) including
His twelve-year term in office saw the growing influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in decisions by donor-nations regarding financial support and management of the Central African state. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Many members of Kolingba's ethnic group, the Yakoma, obtained lucrative posts in the public, private and parastatal sectors of the CAR's economy during his era. Yakoma are an ethnic group in the Central African Republic who make up 4% of the population of the country or 160000 people This gave rise to growing tension between so-called "southerners" (including the riverine Yakoma) and "northerners" (including the savanna Gbaya) in the CAR which led to violence confrontations between these groups during the Patassé era (1993-2003).
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Early life and education
André-Dieudonné Kolingba was born on 12 August 1935 in Bangui, the capital of the French colony of Oubangui-Chari in French Equatorial Africa. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Oubangui-Chari, or Ubangi-Shari, was a French territory in central Africa which later became the independent country of the Central African French Equatorial Africa ( Afrique équatoriale française, AEF) was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending A member of the riverine Yakoma ethnic group, Kolingba (meaning "Male Buffalo") joined the French military and was transferred to the Central African army at independence in 1960. The African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovid. He became a sub-lieutenant on 1 October 1964, a colonel, and then a Brigadier General on 3 April 1973. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. As a battalion commander, he was named Technical Adviser to the Minister of National Defense, Veterans and War Victims on 1 March 1977 as well as Aide de Camp of His Imperial Majesty Bokassa I. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Jean-Bédel Bokassa (ʒɑ̃ bedɛl bɔkasa 22 February 1921 &ndash 3 November 1996) also known as Bokassa I of Central Africa Then he served briefly as the CAR's ambassador to Canada — replacing Sylvestre Bangui — and the Federal Republic of Germany before being named Minister of in March 1979. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page When Emperor Bokassa was overthrown in 1979 and David Dacko was restored to power by the French, General Kolingba gained Dacko's favor and was made Army Chief of Staff in July 1981.
Overthrow of David Dacko
In September 1981, General Kolingba carried out a bloodless coup and took the place of David Dacko as head of state. He then served as President of the Military Committee for National Reconstruction from 1 September 1981 to 21 September 1985, and as President of the Republic and Head of State from 21 September 1985 until 22 October 1993. Events 1217 - The Estonian tribal leader Lembitu of Lehola was killed in a battle against Teutonic Knights. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) There has been considerable speculation about who supported Kolingba's seizure of power. It has been suggested that local French military advisers helped him carry out the coup without the authorization or knowledge of Socialist President François Mitterrand and his entourage (Delayan 1985; Kalck 2004). Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand ( 26 October 1916 8 January 1996 served as President of France from 1981 to 1995 elected as representative of the Socialist The exact details of the plot may remain a mystery, but a French colonel named Jean-Claude Mantion served as the head of Kolingba's presidential guard for many years thereafter and was so powerful that he was often referred to in the CAR as "the president's president. " The French supported Kolingba until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the democratization movement in Africa during the late 1980s and early 1990s led to local, French and international pressure to hold presidential elections.
Ruling years
After overthrowing Dacko in 1981, Kolingba established a Military Committee for National Reconstruction to rule the country, but in fact he ruled as a military dictator more corrupt than brutal until 1986, when he submitted a Constitution to a national referendum. A dictator is an Authoritarian ruler (eg Absolutist or autocratic) who assumes sole and absolute power without hereditary ascension such as an Absolute A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita The Constitution was approved and an election was staged which resulted in Kolingba being named president for a period of six years, 1986-1992. In May 1986 Kolingba announced the establishment of a new party, the Central African Democratic Party (Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain) or (RDC). The Central African Democratic Rally (Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain is a Political party in the Central African Republic. The Central African Democratic Rally (Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain is a Political party in the Central African Republic.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, internal and external pressures eventually forced Kolingba to adopt a more democratic approach. In March 1991 he agreed to share power with Edouard Frank, who he named prime minister. Édouard Frank was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 15 March 1991 to 4 December 1992. He also established a commission to revise the constitution in order to promote pluralism. When he was finally forced by the donor community, notably a very vocal US ambassador, to hold fair elections, assisted by the UN Electoral Assistance Unit and monitored by international observers in 1992, he only won 10% of the vote and so he declared the elections invalid and had the Constitutional Council cancel the election. His presidential mandate was due to expire on 28 November 1992 and so he carried out a "constitutional coup d'état" and extended his presidential term for another 90 days. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar)
Election of Patassé
On 3 February 1993 Kolingba established an interim organ, the National Provisional Political Council of the Republic (Conseil National Politique Provisoire de la République). Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) On 28 February 1993, Abel Goumba, leader of the opposition Democratic Forces for Dialogue (Concertation des Forces Démocratiques), announced President Kolingba was no longer President. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Unwilling to give in, Kolingba remained in his post but the group of local donor representatives (GIBAFOR) notably the USA and France forced him to hold proper elections and the same team that the UN Electoral Assistance unit had provided for the earlier election, which Kolingba's government caused to fail, was brought in to give its support. Angé Patassé won the presidency on 19 September 1993, but was no less corrupt and somewhat more arbitrary and brutal than his predecessor. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar)
Attempted coup
On 28 May 2001 a coup d'état was attempted against President Patassé but it failed. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Patassé accused Kolingba and his partisans of attempting to destabilize his regime and wanted to put him on trial and so Kolingba took refuge in Uganda. After the overthrow of Patassé, self-proclaimed President François Bozizé declared an amnesty for all those involved in the attempted coup d'état of 2001. Kolingba finally returned to Bangui on 5 October 2003 during the last days of a National Conference (Dialogue National) which Bozize sponsored to promote reconciliation and reconstruction of the country. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. On 7 October 2003 Kolingba attended the conference and spoke to the delegates, publicly asking for forgiveness for the excesses committed during his rule. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. He then left for Paris on 2 November 2003 for a prostate operation. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
Awards and family
Kolingba was named officier de l’Ordre de l’Opération Bokassa (Officer of the Order of the Operation Bokassa) on 1 December 1971, officier de l’Ordre de la Médaille de la Reconnaissance Centrafricaine (Officer of the Order of the Medal of Central African Gratitude) on 1 January 1972, chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Postal (Knight of the Order of Postal Merit) on 1 December 1972, commandeur (Commander) (1 January 1975) and dignité de Grand-Croix (Grand Cross) (1 December 1981) de l’Ordre du Mérite Centrafricain (Central African Order of Merit). Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981
References
- Kalck, Pierre. Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. 3nd ed. Trans. Thomas O'Toole. Metuchen, N. J. & London: The Scarecrow Press, 2004.
- Delayen, Julie Anne. “Origins and Causes of Military Rule in the Central African Republic. ” M. A. thesis, University of Florida, 1985.
- Webb, Raymond Porter. “State Politics in the Central African Republic” Ph. D. dissertation, University of Michigan?, Wisconsin?, 1996.
- Titley, Brian. Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor Bokassa. London & Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1997.
- Saulnier, Pierre. Le Centrafrique: Entre mythe et réalité. Paris: L’Harmattan, 1998.
| Preceded by David Dacko |
President of Central African Republic 1981 – 1993 |
Succeeded by Ange-Félix Patassé |
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