17 Peoples’ Rights which it ratified, to outline the constraints encountered and to identify possible solutions which require intense socio-educational activities. III/ THE POLITICAL REGIMES BEFORE AND AFTER INDEPENDENCE Even before the triggering of the pro-independence movements, the Oubanguians, today known as Central Africans, engaged in struggle against slavery and inhuman treatment which was being meted out to them by the Colonialists. One may recall here the KONGO-WARA war from 1928 to 1931. With the pro-independence movement, the Founder President, Barthélemy BOGANDA was to raise national awareness through his idealist struggle based on Human Rights « ZO KWE ZO » that is, all Men are equal (one Man is as good as another), inscribed in the Great Seal and the motto which summarises all the fundamental Human Rights principles, namely: « Unity – Dignity – Labour ». After the death of Barthélemy BOGANDA on the 29th March 1959 and from the proclamation of independence on the 13th August 1960 by the President David DACKO who led the country up to the 1st Coup d’Etat in 1966, the Central African Republic has undergone a cycle of political regimes marked by regimes brought about through the force of arms or elections. - On the 1st January 1966, Colonel Jean Bedel BOKASSA takes over power through the use of arms and transforms the country into an Empire in 1976 where he would remain until 1979. His regime would be characterized by serious human rights violations, namely: assassinations, arbitrary arrests, rape… ; - On the 21st September 1979, following insurrectional movements contesting BOKASSA’s regime, President David DACKO, with the help of Operation Barracuda, takes over power by armed force; - In March 1981, after the pluralist elections won by President DACKO, a democratic regime is put in place on the basis of the 1981 Constitution; - On the 21st September 1981, following political protests, the Army General André KOLINGBA takes over power. The latter, after five years got himself elected President of the Republic at the same time that the population was adopting the Constitution on the 21st November 1986; - In 1993, under the pressure of consecutive social unrest and with the advent of multiparty democracy, free elections were organised which brought President Ange Félix PATASSE to power. The latter succeeded in renewing his mandate through elections in 1999 and governed until March 2003. However, it has to be emphasized that this regime was marked by serious cases of human rights violations, notably: - Summary executions, kidnappings, crimes against humanity, genocide, extermination crimes, intelligence dealings with non conventional forces, corruption, impunity, non-payment of salaries (35 months), division of the people, the politicization and the introduction of tribalism