Nola, Central African Republic Explained

Official Name:Nola
Pushpin Map:Central African Republic
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Central African Republic
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Central African Republic
Subdivision Name1:Sangha-Mbaéré
Subdivision Type2:District
Leader Title:Sub-Prefect
Leader Name:Janvier Seledonon[1]
Population As Of:2012
Population Total:41462
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Coordinates:3.5333°N 20°W
Elevation M:442

Nola is the capital of Sangha-Mbaéré, an economic prefecture of the Central African Republic. It is located at the confluence of the Kadéï and the Mambere river. The Sangha River is formed here due to the aforementioned rivers.

History

In 1911, the area around Bouar was ceded by France to Germany under the terms of the Morocco-Congo Treaty, becoming part of the German colony of Neukamerun until it was reconquered by the French during World War I. During the war, local Gbaya chief Daddio provided many canoes to French Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas Hutin to help the French retake Nola from the Germans. Another local chief, Ngoukou I, also helped fight against the Germans.[2]

Sleeping sickness had long been an issue in the areas around Nola. During the colonial period, French authorities embarked on a risky and now-disproven prophylactic campaign called 'lomidinisation'. Nola and Yokadouma in the French Congo were the centre of this misguided immunisation campaign.[3]

On 28 March 2013 Nola was captured by Séléka forces.[4] On 12 February 2014 the town was captured by Anti-balaka militias.[5] 17 Muslims were killed in Nola in February 2014 by Anti-balakas while survivors fled to Cameroon.[6] In September 2016 Nola was declared to be free from rebel groups.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oubangui Medias . Oubangui Medias . Centrafrique : Décrets portant nomination des Gouverneurs, des Préfets et des Sous-Préfets . oubanguimedias.com . Oubangui Medias . 5 June 2024.
  2. Book: Bradshaw . Richard . Fandos-Rius . Juan . 2016 . Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic . New . Rowman & Littlefield . Lanham, Maryland . 9780810879911 . 200.
  3. Book: Lachenal . Guillaume . The Lomidine Files: The untold story of a medical disaster in colonial Africa . 2017 . Johns Hopkins University Press . Baltimore . 9781421423241.
  4. Web site: Central African Republic Situation Report No. 9 (as of 28 March 2013). 28 March 2013.
  5. https://www.ipisresearch.be/mapping/webmapping/car/v3/#3.5240260000000063/16.14494000000002/11/2/1,17,13/ IPIS Map CAR V3
  6. https://ccfd-terresolidaire.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_.pdf Les Peuhls Mbororo de Centrafrique une communauté qui souffre
  7. https://www.thediamondloupe.com/sites/awdcnewswall/files/attachments/Kimberley%20Process%20declares%20three%20more%20zones%20in%20Central%20African%20Republic%20as%20%27Compliant%20Zones%27%20-%2027%20September%202016%20-%20ENG_0.pdf KIMBERLEY PROCESS DECLARES THREE MORE ZONES IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) AS ‘COMPLIANT ZONES’