46 To this is added the problems caused by bad governance, the embezzlement of public funds and corruption making it difficult for the State to deal with its royal obligations. Thus, it is important to point out that the devaluation of the CFA Franc in 1994 did not have any results for the CAR. The country did not benefit from any accompanying measure, whereas other countries benefitted from the measures accompanying the devaluation of the CFA Franc. The CAR appears to be weary of the negotiations aimed at obtaining sizeable investments for its economic development from the international financial institutions (IMF/WB). 3/ Social Problems At the social level, the Government is faced with the problem of the regular payment of the salaries of Public Servants, of scholarships and pensions. In effect, there are repeated strikes by the beneficiaries who often demand the payment of their salaries which were due and the settlement of their salary arrears from the rulers (12 months under the regime of President KOLINGBA, 24 months under the regime of President PATASSE and some months under the current regime). However, the problem of salaries, scholarships and pensions has been a matter of constant concern for the Government which is endeavouring to take the necessary measures to solve it. Several reforms are being started by the Government to eradicate the evils which are corrupting the CAR. Thus, an operation checking on the salaries of Public Servants and State Officials resulted in the exposure of cases of the fraudulent receipt of several salaries by one official, of salaries and family allocations paid out unjustifiably. In order to discourage impunity, several hundreds of Public Servants and State Officials including three members of the Government had been sanctioned and brought to justice. The result of this checking was a reduction of the salaried masses by more than two thousand officials. Another social problem is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The CAR is currently placed among the top group of countries with a high prevalence of AIDS. The Government is constrained by a lack of resources which prevents it from providing care to a large number of AIDS patients. Anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) are available in the hospitals but the insufficient quantity is a problem for all the patients. To this is added other illnesses like malaria and tuberculosis which continue to kill people in the country. Finally, the problem of unemployment is becoming more and more worrisome and a cause for concern in the CAR, as, at this point in time, the State can no longer reintegrate the youth in society.

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