About IWGIAIndigenous peoples in the Central African Republic
There are two groups of indigenous peoples in the Central African Republic namely the Mbororo and the Aka.
The indigenous Mbororo, are essentially nomadic pastoralists in constant search of pastureland. They can be found in the prefectures of Ouaka in region 4 in the centre-east; M’bomou in region 6 in the south; Nana-Mambéré in region 3 in the north-west and Ombella-Mpoko in region 1 in the south-west. The 2003 census gave an Mbororo population of 39,299, or 1% of the population. There is a higher proportion of Mbororo in rural areas, where they account for 1.4% of the population, than in urban areas where they represent only 0.2%.
The indigenous Aka population is pejoratively known as Pygmies. The exact size of the Aka population is not known but they are estimated to number several tens of thousands. These indigenous people live primarily (90%) in the forests, which they consider their home and where they are able to carry out their traditional activities of hunting, gathering and fishing. The indigenous Aka live in the following prefectures: Lobaye in the south-west; Ombella M’poko in the south-west; Sangha Mbaéré in the south-west and Mambéré Kadîe in the west.
The Central African Republic voted in favour of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007 and in August 2010, it became the first African State to ratify ILO Convention 169.
Download the 2011 yearbook article on indigenous peoples in the Central African Republic to read more about major developments and events during 2010
