After yesterday’s African island getaway we come crashing back down to earth in Central African Republic (CAR). 

CAR is actually reasonably hard to research. Most western countries advise against all travel and it’s very much off the tourist trail owing the fact it has been in near constant turmoil since gaining independence from France in 1958. It’s been a long story of dictators, coups, counter coups, skirmishes and civil wars. Since 2012 CAR has been locked in a bloody civil war which as of this year has intensified despite the lack of international media coverage. 

Given its traumatic story it’s unsurprising that CAR is economically undeveloped. CAR’s main documented export is diamonds, accounting for 57% of all exports, but the ivory trade is also likely to be a lucrative export.

Despite the illicit ivory trade, CAR is home to a vast biodiversity owing to its lack of development. The majority of the country is unused by humans and home to lowland gorillas, forrest elephants, chimpanzees and many other large mammals.

CAR, I really hope your future is brighter than the past sixty years of independence.