Satema is a
sub-prefecture
A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province.
Albania
There are twelve Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is divided into several districts, sometimes translated as subprefectures. ...
of
Basse-Kotto
Basse-Kotto (, "Lower Kotto") is one of the 20 and the least populated prefecture of the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central African Republ ...
in the
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 ...
.
Geography
The city is located on the right bank and facing the rapids of the
Ubangi River
The Ubangi River (; ; ; ), also spelled Oubangui, is a river in Central Africa, and the largest right-bank tributary of the Congo River. It begins at the confluence of the Mbomou River, Mbomou (mean annual discharge 1,350 m3/s) and Uele Rivers (mea ...
, which is the border with
Congo DRC
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 ...
. Towards the North, a rural track connects the locality with the RN2 national road at the locality of Dimbi.
History
On August 15, 1891, during the Gaillard expedition, the gunboat ''Le Ballay'' sank in the rapids of Satéma. The administrative control point of Satema was created on July 9, 1982 in the municipality of
Kotto-Oubangui. In 2002, the locality is erected in sub-prefecture.
Civil war
In early January 2013,
Séléka
Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sélà ...
rebels arrived in Satema following withdrawal of armed forces. They kidnapped a woman and pillaged several building including state institutions and the Catholic Church. In November 2016 it was reported that Satema was under the control of the rebel group known as the
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC, ) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic which controls southern parts of the country.
History
UPC was formed on 17 September 2014 by Ali Darassa from the ex-Séléka elements. ...
. Since at least 2017, it is under control of
anti-balaka
The Anti-balaka (''anti-machete'') is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said by ''the Guardian'' to be composed primarily of Christians, but also some Muslims. However, some church leade ...
militias which reportedly as of 2019 engage in forced marriage, kidnappings and ritual killings in the subprefecture. On 4 April 2021 it was reported that 50 Anti-balaka fighters led by General Ndagou with automatic weapons were based in Satema.
Economy
The sub-prefecture is located in a zone of maize, cassava, peanut and rice food crops. Commercial crops are cotton, tobacco and coffee.
[Commission nationale de la coopération décentralisée]
''Projet: Favoriser l'accès à l'eau potable''
2009
References
{{coord, 4, 18, N, 21, 41, E, display=title, region:CF_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki
Sub-prefectures of the Central African Republic
Populated places in Basse-Kotto