Oubangui-Chari 663408 225764805 2008-07-15T08:29:37Z JAnDbot 1725149 robot Adding: [[pl:Ubangi-Szari]] {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = ''Oubangui-Chari'' |conventional_long_name = Ubangi-Shari |common_name = Oubangui-Chari |continent = Africa |region = Central Africa |country = Central African Republic |era = |status = Colony |empire = France |life_span = 1903 – 1960 |event_start = [[Colonized]] |year_start = 1889 |event_end = [[Self-governing colony|Autonomy]] |year_end = 1958 |date_end = December 1 |event1 = Colonial administration |date_event1 = 1903 |event2 = Merged with Chad |date_event2 = 1906 |event3 = French Equatorial Africa |date_event3 = 1910 |event_post = [[Central African Republic|Independence]] |date_post = August 13, 1960 |s1 = Central African Republic |flag_s1 = Flag of the Central African Republic.svg |image_flag = Flag of France.svg |flag = Flag of France |image_map = |capital = Bangui |common_languages = [[French language|French]] |currency = [[French Equatorial African franc]]<br>[[Central African CFA franc|CFA franc]] |footnotes = }} [[Image:Oubangui-Chari.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''Oubangui-Chari'' in 1910. Note the borders are reduced to the southeastern section of the present-day CAR]] '''Oubangui-Chari''', or '''Ubangi-Shari''', was a [[France|French]] territory in central [[Africa]] which later became the independent country of the [[Central African Republic]] on [[August 13]], [[1960]]. It followed the establishment of the [[Bangui]] outpost in 1889, and was named in 1894. The French did not establish a colonial administration until 1903, upon defeating [[Egypt]]ian forces (the territory was claimed by the Egyptian [[Sultan]]). The Oubangui-Chari territory was merged with the [[Chad]] colony in 1906. In 1910, it became one of four territories of the [[Federation of French Equatorial Africa]], (with [[Chad]], [[Middle Congo]], and [[Gabon]]), initially with Chad as "Oubangi-Chari-Tchad", and made into an autonomous civilian colony in 1915. Chad was separated in 1920. == Postage stamps and postal history == [[Image:Stamp Ubangi-Shari 1924 1c.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This 1-centime stamp of 1924 has two different overprints.]] Military postal service began at Bangui in 1893, at [[Fort Possel]] in 1894, and was gradually extended along the [[Ubangi River]] and northwards into the country during the 1900s. Civilian mail used [[postage stamp]]s of the "[[Middle Congo]]" (''Moyen Congo'') from 1907. In 1915, Middle Congo stamps were [[overprint]]ed "OUBANGUI-CHARI-TCHAD" to reflect the changed status, and then in 1922 just "OUBANGUI-CHARI". In 1924, the 1922 stamps were in turn overprinted "AFRIQUE EQUATORIALE FRANCAISE". A number of those were surcharged with new values between 1925 and 1927. In 1928, [[postage due]] stamps of France were overprinted "OUBANGUI-CHARI / A. E. F.", followed in 1930 by a set of 11 postage dues issued specifically for the colony; printed in two colors, the lower values depicted a landscape, and the higher values [[Emile Gentil]]. A 1931 issue of four stamps for the [[Colonial Exposition]] was the last to be produced for the territory; from 1936 on, French Equatorial Africa issued uniform sets of stamps used throughout its area. {{Former French colonies}} [[Category:Former colonies of France]] [[Category:History of the Central African Republic]] [[Category:Amalgamated placenames]] [[Category:French Equatorial Africa]] {{Africa-hist-stub}} {{CentralAfricanRepublic-geo-stub}} [[ca:Ubangui-Chari]] [[cs:Ubangi-Šari]] [[es:Ubangui-Chari]] [[eo:Ubangi-Ŝari]] [[fr:Oubangui-Chari]] [[pl:Ubangi-Szari]]