Bangassou is a city in the southeastern of
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central African Republic–Chad border, the north, Sudan to Central African Republic–Sudan border, the northeast, South Sudan to Central ...
, lying on the north bank of the
Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the
Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and nearby
Bangassou Airport and is linked by ferry to the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
on the south bank. The city is also home to the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bangassou
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bangassou () is a suffragan diocese in the Central African Republic in the ecclesiastical province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui, Bangui. The diocese is dependent on the missionary Dicastery for Evangeliza ...
.
Axmin Mining Camp and
Kembé Falls are located in the area.
History
During the French colonial occupation of
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State, also known as the Independent State of the Congo (), was a large Sovereign state, state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by Leopold II of Belgium, King Leopold II, the const ...
, the French military established a base at Bangassou. In 1922 the Spiritains established a
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
mission in the town. In 1931 the société cotonnière Comouna built a cotton processing plant in the town. In 1935 the town became the capital of the Department of
Mbomou.
Together with
Sibut
Sibut (), formerly Fort Sibut () is the capital of Kémo, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. An important transport hub, it is situated north of the capital Bangui and is known for its market.
Sibut is located at t ...
, Bangassou received electricity in 1980.
Sultanate
Bangassou has been a Sultanate since at least the early 18th century. It was founded by the Bamba Bambari peoples. The Sultan since 2011 has been Maxime Faustin Mbringa Takama. He is one of many
non-sovereign African monarchs.
Civil war
On 11 March 2013
Seleka rebels occupied the town. On 10 October 2013, their leader and 30 rebels were arrested by authorities. In May 2017 Anti-balaka
attacked and for a few days occupied the town resulting in more than 100 deaths.
On January 3, 2021,
rebel fighters backed by
François Bozizé
François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African Republic, Central African politician who was List of heads of state of the Central African Republic, President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. He was th ...
captured the town, according to
MINUSCA
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en C ...
. They withdrew from the town on 16 January and moved towards
Niakari.
Climate
Bangassou has a
tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry "winter") and ''As'' (for a dry "summer"). The driest month has less than ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Aw''). Although the
dry season
The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The t ...
from December to February is very short and more typical of
tropical monsoon climate
An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate subtype that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ' ...
s, the lengthy
wet season
The wet season (sometimes called the rainy season or monsoon season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. Generally, the season lasts at least one month. The term ''green season'' is also sometimes used a ...
from March to November is not sufficiently wet to so qualify.
Gallery
File:Cathédrale Saint Pierre Claver Bangassou.JPG, San Pedro Claver Cathedral, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bangassou
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bangassou () is a suffragan diocese in the Central African Republic in the ecclesiastical province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui, Bangui. The diocese is dependent on the missionary Dicastery for Evangeliza ...
File:Palacio Justicia Bangassou.JPG, Bangassou courthouse
File:Buen Samaritano Bangassou.JPG, AIDS hospice, run in association with the diocese
File:Sultan and his wives at Bangassou, 1906.png, Sultan and his wives at Bangassou, 1906
File:Near Bangassou, 1906.png, Near Bangassou, 1906
References
{{Mbomou
Sub-prefectures of the Central African Republic
Central African Republic–Democratic Republic of the Congo border crossings
Populated places in Mbomou