Central African Socialist Republic (Soviet Dominance)

The Central African Socialist Republic is a nation in Central Africa. It borders Chad, Cameroon, Sudan, and the People's Republic of the Congo.

Early History
The CASR didn't have too much of a history until around the 16th century when Arab slave traders began raids on the region as a part of their expansion past the Saharan and Nile trade routes. Their captives were mostly taken to the European coast, Arabia, and the Americas, or to slave ports and factories in west and north Africa. During the 18th century, indigenous peoples of the region founded the Bangassou Kingdom along the Ubangi River.

Colonial Period
In 1875 Sudanese sultan Rabih az-Zubayr governed Upper Obangui, which included parts of the modern day CASR. The European invasion of Central African territories began in the 19th century during the Scramble for Africa. In 1894, France created the Ubangi-Shari territory. In 1911, France ceded a small portion of the nation to Germany, though they regained the area after World War I. In 1920 French Equatorial Africa was created, and Ubangi-Shari was administered in Brazzaville. In 1940, pro-Gaullist officers took control of Ubangi-Shari and established headquarters for free French forces in Bangui. The nation gained independence in August 1960.

Independence
Post-independence, the CASR was marred by numerous coup d'états. Barthélémy Boganda was the first prime minister, and declared the establishment of the nation. However, he died in a plane crash in March 1959; with his cousin David Dacko taking power. He declared his party; MESAN, as the only political party of the state. In December 1965, Dacko was overthrown by Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who renamed the nation to the Central African Empire and named himself Emperor. A year later, he coronated himself in a ravish ceremony which was ridiculed by most of the world. Bokassa was overthrown by the French in 1979, who restored Dacko to power; who was in turn overthrown in another coup by General André Kolingba. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, revolts for communism arose. Pressure from the Soviet Union and unified Marxist Germany to adopt socialism; in response to this Kolingba implemented more Marxist elements into the nation.

Modern Central Africa
A coup d'état backed by numerous Marxist nations occurred in 1991, and Ange-Félix Patassé was put into power due to lack of a better candidate. He remains in power to this day. The nation has good ties with numerous other Marxist states including neighbors Chad and Sudan.

Government
The CASR is a dictatorship but with some democratic elements. The nation is somewhat democratic, with citizens being able to elect a Prime Minister who has some authority over the country; however ultimately the non-democratically elected President has true authority.