Civil law or Common law 

The French civil law applies in the Central African Republic.

Historical background

The Central African Republic became a French colony in 1940, during the second world war. They imposed the French civil law system as the main legal system during the colonial period. The central African Republic gained its independence in 1960 and maintained the French civil law system in coexistence with traditional laws.

Traditional law v Civil law

Both customary law and civil law apply.

Judiciary system

The judicial system is categorized into two categories, which include the high courts and the subordinate courts. The high courts include the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. The subordinate courts include the High Courts and the Magistrates Court.

Membership to other zone economic areas

The Central African Republic is a member of  :

  – The Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA)

  – The African Union, (A.U.)

  – The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

  – The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)

  – The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)

  – The Inter-African Conference on Social Security (CIPRES)