A ceremonial parade in honor of the 67th anniversary of the Republic Proclamation Day took place on December 1 in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), on the Avenue of Martyrs. The ceremony was led by the country's President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Russia was represented by its Ambassador to Bangui, Alexander Bikantov, according to a correspondent from the "African Initiative."
"Exactly 67 years ago, thanks to their faith, heroism, and self-sacrifice, our ancestors—the people of Ubangi—established the Central African Republic on December 1, 1958: our common heritage, our pride, and our future," the head of state stated in his address to the nation.
He emphasized the central role of the founding fathers, including the country's first Prime Minister, Barthélemy Boganda.
"They succeeded in transforming the sufferings of colonization into courage, dependence into dignity, and a people long subjected to oppression and persecution from all sides into a proud and sovereign nation," Touadéra stressed.
The parade involved approximately 8,000 military personnel and 10,000 civilians. During the military procession, L-39 training aircraft and an Il-76 military transport aircraft flew over the Avenue of Martyrs.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to the CAR leader on the occasion of the holiday. In it, he highlighted the "friendly nature" of relations between the two states and expressed confidence that "cooperation will continue to develop across various spheres—for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, as well as in the interests of security and stability on the African continent."
On the occasion of the national holiday, congratulatory messages were also sent to the President of the National Assembly of the CAR, Simplice Sarandji, by the Chairwoman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, and the Speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin.
Republic Proclamation Day in the CAR is celebrated on December 1. On this day in 1958, the former French colony gained autonomy, and two years later—in 1960—the country achieved full independence.
