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Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is the Interim President of the Central African Republic and the first woman to hold the post. Prior to becoming president in 2014, she was the mayor of Bangui.

Early life

Samba-Panza was born on 26 June 1954 in Chad to a Cameroonian father and a mother from the Central African Republic (CAR). Prior to politics she was a businesswoman and corporate lawyer. She moved to the CAR at the age of 18. She trained as a lawyer at Panthéon-Assas University

Political career

She was appointed Mayor of Bangui, the capital of CAR, by the National Transitional Council (CNT) during the 2012–13 conflict. Her appointment was accepted by both sides in the conflict and also by French President Francois Hollande.

Presidency

Following the Central African Republic conflict under the Djotodia administration and President Michel Djotodia's resignation after a CEEAC summit on 10 January 2014, Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet served as acting president until the CNT elected her as interim president from a list of eight candidates who had to prove they had no links to either the Seleka or the Anti-balaka. She will lead the country to the 2015 election. Of the MPs that voted in the election were 129 of the 135 MPs in parliament. After beating Desire Kolingba in a second round ballot, she said:

I call on my children, especially the anti-balaka, to put down their arms and stop all the fighting. The same goes for the ex-Seleka - they should not have fear. I don't want to hear any more talk of murders and killings. Starting today, I am the president of all Central Africans, without exclusion.

Her call for talks between both sides to the conflict was welcomed by the parties too. She was sworn as president on 23 January.

References

1. ^ "Central African Republic MPs elect Catherine Samba-Panza". Bbc.co.uk. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
2. ^ Ngoupana, Paul-Marin (January 20, 2014). "Une femme élue à la présidence en Centrafrique". Le Point (in French).
3. Perrin, Olivier (January 21, 2014). "Une "maire courage" pour réconcilier ses enfants de République centrafricaine". Le Soir (in French).
4. Paul-Marin Ngoupana. "Central African Republic's capital tense as ex-leader heads into exile". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
5. "CAR appoints Bangui mayor as interim leader". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
6. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/car-leader-pledges-talks-with-armed-groups-201412285543966125.html
7. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/new-car-leader-sworn-as-tensions-escalate-2014123162736447639.html

v t e Presidents of the Central African Republic
Central African Republic (1960–1976)	Dacko Bokassa
Central African Empire (1976–1979)	Bokassa I
Central African Republic (1979–present)	Dacko Kolingba Patassé Bozizé Djotodia Nguendet Samba-Panza Touadéra
* Acting

Template:Persondata

• Living people
• 1954 births
• Heads of state of the Central African Republic
• Mayors of Bangui
• Female heads of state
• Cameroonian expatriates
• Central African politicians
• Central African women in politics
• Central African lawyers
• Central African businesspeople
• Central African people of Cameroonian descent
• Panthéon-Assas University alumni
• People from Bangui