18 within the armed forces and the Public Service… All this brought about muntinys and social unrest. On the 15th March 2003, the Divisional General François BOZIZE abrogated Ange Félix PATASSE’s (democratic) regime by a Coup d’Etat which obtained the total support of the dehumanised Central African population. It is worthy to underscore here that the 15th March 2003 change of Government, although accepted by the population, commited human rights violations. A consensual transitional programme was put in place with a Transitional Government, and a National Transitional Council. The organization of National Dialogue and the setting up of an Independent and Mixed Electoral Commission allowed the Central Africans to reconcile. Following the elections of March and May 2005, General François BOZIZE was elected President of the Republic. A new National Assembly was set up, and all the Institutions provided for by the new Constitution are currently operational, including a broad based Government in which even the Members of the Opposition are represented. Furthermore, the instability of the political regimes characterised by the constant alternating of arms against the ballot box is an indication of under development whilst revealing the absence of a genuine national political programme. This deficiency, magnified by the advent of multipartism with no training or education in the country with at least forty six (46) Political Parties, appears to be a handicap to all initiatives for sustainable development. 1- HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Central African Republic formerly called Oubangui-Chari, was an integral part of the French Colonial Empire under the 4th Republic. It became an OverSeas Territory of the French Union with the promulgation of the Constitution of the 27th October 1946. This OverSeas Territory was provided with a Teritorial Assembly in conformity with the General Law of the 23rd June of 1956, known as the DEFFERRE Law and had deliberative powers. The reform introduced a parliamentary regime which resulted in a political initiative with regard to the functioning of the metropolitan institutions. For the first time Universal Suffrage was introduced in the Colonies, notably in Oubangui-Chari and it eliminated the dual college. On the 17th May 1957, the first Government Council became functional and the Territorial Assembly was elected on the 23rd March 1957.

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