David Dacko (March 24, 1930 – November 30, 2003) was the first President of the Central African Republic (CAR), from August 14, 1960 to January 1, 1966, and the third president of the CAR from September 21, 1979 to September 1, 1981. Even after being removed from power twice by coups d'état, Dacko continued to be a very active politician and presidential candidate with a loyal group of supporters. Dacko was thus an important political figure in CAR politics for a period of over half a century. March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life and education

Dacko was born in the village of Bouchia, near Mbaiki in the Lobaye region, which was then a part of the French Equatorial African territory of Moyen Congo (Middle Congo). He began primary school in Mbaiki, where his father worked as a night watchman. He continued primary school in Bambari before being admitted to the Normal School for training teachers in Mouyoundzi, Moyen Congo. After becoming a teacher in Bangui in 1951, he took part in an experimental educational program promoted by the French colonial administration. Dacko was named principal of Kouanga College in 1955 and became a supporter of independence leader Barthélémy Boganda, who was from the same Ngbaka ethnic group as Dacko. In March 1957 Dacko presented himself as a candidate for legislative elections in Ubangi-Shari for the circumscription of Ombella-M'Poko and won a seat as a member of the "Territorial Assembly of Ubangi-Shari". When the first Council of Government of Ubangi-Shari was established that same year, Boganda named Dacko Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Water and Forests, in which position he served from May 14, 1957 until August 23, 1958. Dacko then served as Minister of the Interior and Administrative Affairs from August 23 to December 8, 1958. When the Territorial Assembly became the Legislative Constitutive Assembly on December 1, 1958, Dacko and his fellow Territorial Councilors became Deputies. Dacko remained in the government as the Minister of the Interior, Economy and Commerce (December 8, 1958 - April 30, 1959). During 1959, Dacko succeeded Boganda as the main leader of the country when Boganda died in a plane crash. Mbaïki is the capital of Lobaye, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. ... Lobaye is one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. ... French Equatorial Africa (French: ) was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert. ... The Republic of the Congo, also known as Middle Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Congo (but not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, which was also at one time known as the Republic of the Congo), is a former French colony of west-central Africa. ... Bambari is the third largest city in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. ... Bangui is the capital of and the largest city in the Central African Republic. ... Barthélemy Boganda (4 April 1910 – 29 March 1959) was the leading pre-independence nationalist in the Central African Republic. ... Oubangui-Chari, or Ubangi-Shari, was a French territory in central Africa which later became the independent country of the Central African Republic on August 13, 1960. ... Ombella-MPoko is one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. ... Oubangui-Chari, or Ubangi-Shari, was a French territory in central Africa which later became the independent country of the Central African Republic on August 13, 1960. ... The Council of Government of Monaco is the Princes governing body. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

First term as President

After the independence was achieved on August 13, 1960, Dacko became Provisional President of the Republic (August 14, 1960 - December 12, 1960), and then, with the active support of France against his rival Abel Goumba, the first president of the CAR (December 12, 1960 - December 31, 1965). In 1960 he also served as President of the Conference of Prime Ministers of Equatorial Africa. August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Abel Goumba (born 1927) is the Vice President of the Central African Republic under François Bozizé. He was Prime Minister in the 1950s, and was appointed prime minister again in 2003 after a coup ousted the previous government. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

Dacko began to consolidate his power soon after taking office in 1960. He retained the portfolio of Minister of Defense (August 17, 1960 - January 1, 1966) and Keeper of the Seals (August 17, 1960 - January 2, 1963) and amended the Constitution to transform his regime into a one-party state with a strong presidency elected for a term of seven years. On January 5, 1964 Dacko was chosen president in an election for which he was the only candidate. His seven year term (1964-1971), however, was cut short by a coup d'état carried out by General Jean-Bedel Bokassa (see below). August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Jean-B del Bokassa (February 22, 1921 – November 3, 1996) was the military ruler of the Central African Republic from January 1, 1966 until his overthrow as Emperor on September 20, 1979. ...

During his first term as president Dacko significantly increased diamond production in the CAR by eliminating the monopoly on mining held by concessionary companies and decreeing that any Central African could dig for diamonds. He also succeeded in having a diamond-cutting factory built in the capital, Bangui. Diamonds eventually became the CAR's most important export and remain so today, even though half or more of the country's diamonds are smuggled out of the country. Dacko encouraged the rapid "Centralafricanization" of the CAR's administration, which was accompanied by growing corruption and inefficiency, and he expanded the number of civil servants, which greatly increased the portion of the national budget needed to pay salaries. The difficulty of securing enough revenues to pay a large number of bureaucrats who are often inefficient and corrupt has been a major problem for the CAR ever since. // A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ... Bangui is the capital of and the largest city in the Central African Republic. ...

Dacko was torn between his need to retain the support of France and his need to show that he was not subservient to France. In order to cultivate alternative sources of support and display his independence in foreign policy, Dacko cultivated closer relations with the People's Republic of China, for example. By 1965, however, Dacko had lost the support of most Central Africans and may have been planning to resign from the presidency when he was overthrown.

Overthrown by Bokassa

On the night of December 31, 1965 - January 1, 1966 General Jean-Bedel Bokassa carried out a successful coup d'état against Dacko and prevented the possible assumption of power by a rival, Colonel Jean Izamo, head of the national gendarme police force. Dacko, who belonged to the same Ngbaka ethnic group as Bokassa, was imprisoned, placed under house arrest in Lobaye, but then was released on July 16, 1969 and eventually named personal counselor of President Bokassa on September 17, 1976. When Bokassa's rule came under increasing criticism during the late 1970s, Dacko managed to leave for Paris where the French convinced him to cooperate in a coup to remove Bokassa from power and restore him to the presidency. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Restored to power

On the night of September 20-21, 1979, French paratroopers carried out Operation Barracuda, which overthrew Bokassa and restored Dacko to the presidency. In March 1981, Dacko was elected President of the Republic once again (April 1, 1981-September 1, 1981) in a rigged election. Dacko was regarded by many Central Africans as a puppet of the French and his right to rule was challenged, in particular, by Bokassa's former prime minister, Ange-Félix Patassé who, in addition to belonging to the largest ethnic group in the country, the Gbaya, had residential and kinship ties to other ethnic groups and was the most popular politician in the country. Dacko failed once again to satisfy either his people or France. September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Patassé with Bozizé in the background 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 François Bozizé. Patassé was born in Paoua. ...

Overthrown by Kolingba

On September 1, 1981, Dacko was overthrown in a bloodless coup carried out by army chief of staff General André Kolingba, who may have had the support of local French security officers who are suspected of having acted without authorization by France's new Socialist government led by President Mitterrand. Such allegations may never be substantiated, but Kolingba did subsequently enjoy a very close relationship with France and a presidential security team led by Colonel Mantion. Dacko, for his part, was not only unharmed, but eventually returned to politics to lead a party opposed to General Kolingba. Dacko participated in the presidential elections of 1993 and obtained 20.10% of the votes cast. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Opposition

During the first and second presidential terms of Ange-Félix Patassé (1993-1999 and 1999-2003), Dacko continued to participate actively in politics as a leader of the opposition. Dacko and Kolingba were the main leaders of the opposition, with Kolingba being generally more powerful than Dacko. Dacko ran for president for the last time in the 1999 elections, coming in third place with 11.2% of the vote. After General François Bozizé overthrew Patassé and proclaimed himself president, Dacko participated in the Dialogue National (National Dialogue) that began on September 9, 2003, but shortly thereafter, on September 27, 2003, Dacko had an attack of asthma. He decided to travel to France to seek treatment, but during a stopover in Yaoundé, Cameroon on November 7, 2003, he was taken to the General Hospital of Yaoundé where he died at 10 p.m. on November 20, 2003. The CAR government declared a month of national mourning in memory of former President Dacko. On December 13, 2003 he was buried in Mokinda, near his residence. François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born October 14, 1946) is the current President of the Central African Republic. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... View of Yaoundé Yaoundé, «yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (2004), is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Family and Awards

David Dacko was survived by his wife Brigitte, who bore seven sons and four daughters (Bruno Dacko, Ruffin Molomadon, etc.). Dacko received many awards and honors during his lifetime, including Commander of the Central African Order of Agriculture (April 23, 1963), Commander of the Central African Order of Academic Palms (June 26, 1964). A major street is named after him, Avenue President David Dacko. April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

See also

• List of Dictators

The following is a list of national leaders (heads of state and/or heads of government) commonly regarded as modern dictators. ...

Sources

• Serre, Jacques. "Six ans de gouvernement Dacko (1960-1966)." Revue française d'études politiques africaines (Paris) 117 (1975):73-104.
• Kalck, Pierre. Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. 3nd ed. Trans. Thomas O'Toole. Metuchen, N.J. & London: The Scarecrow Press, 2004.
• Kalck, Pierre. Central African Republic: A Failure in Decolonization. London: Pall Mall, 1971.
• 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.

Barthélemy Boganda - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... The Prime Minister of the Central African Republic is the head of government. ... List of Heads of State of Central African Republic and Central African Empire (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Affiliations:- See also:- Central African Republic Central African Empire Heads of Government of the Central African Republic (and Central African Empire) Colonial Heads of Central Africa Lists of... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Emperor Bokassa I, also known as Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa and Jean-Bédel Bokassa (IPA: , (February 22, 1921–November 3, 1996), was the military ruler of the Central African Republic from January 1, 1966 and the emperor of the Central African Empire from December 4, 1976, until his overthrow... Bokassa I, also known as Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa and Jean-Bédel Bokassa (IPA: , (February 22, 1921–November 3, 1996), was the military ruler of the Central African Republic from January 1, 1966 and the emperor of the Central African Empire from December 4, 1976, until his and its... List of Heads of State of Central African Republic and Central African Empire (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Affiliations:- See also:- Central African Republic Central African Empire Heads of Government of the Central African Republic (and Central African Empire) Colonial Heads of Central Africa Lists of... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... André Diuedonne Kolingba (born August 12, 1935) was president of the Central African Republic from 1981 to 1993. ...

Presidents of the Central African Republic
Dacko | Bokassa | Dacko | Kolingba | Patassé | Bozizé Emperor: Bokassa (1976–1979)

List of Heads of State of Central African Republic and Central African Empire (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Affiliations:- See also:- Central African Republic Central African Empire Heads of Government of the Central African Republic (and Central African Empire) Colonial Heads of Central Africa Lists of... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic. ... Emperor Bokassa I, also known as Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa and Jean-Bédel Bokassa (IPA: , (February 22, 1921–November 3, 1996), was the military ruler of the Central African Republic from January 1, 1966 and the emperor of the Central African Empire from December 4, 1976, until his overthrow... André Diuedonne Kolingba (born August 12, 1935) was president of the Central African Republic from 1981 to 1993. ... Patassé with Bozizé in the background 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 François Bozizé. Patassé was born in Paoua. ... François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born October 14, 1946) is the current President of the Central African Republic. ... Emperor Bokassa I, also known as Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa and Jean-Bédel Bokassa (IPA: , (February 22, 1921–November 3, 1996), was the military ruler of the Central African Republic from January 1, 1966 and the emperor of the Central African Empire from December 4, 1976, until his overthrow...

External Links

• Encyclopaedia Britannica David Dacko