Members of a military band march during a parade commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Central African Republic's independence in Bangui, Central African Republic, on Aug. 13, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)
YAOUNDE, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- President of the Central African Republic (CAR) Faustin-Archange Touadera has urged citizens to support peace efforts in honor of the people who died fighting for the country's independence.
"Past decades have been marked by coups d'etat, mutinies, rebellions, divisions, betrayals, and interference, which have robbed us of our right to live with dignity," Touadera said in a televised address to the nation on the eve of the 65th Independence Day, commemorated every Aug. 13.
He said that these trials have allowed the country to appreciate the importance of peace for community life, as well as its place in the process of national socio-economic development.
"To survive as a nation, we must preserve the hard-won peace that remains one of the most precious assets for ourselves and for future generations," Touadera said.
He said, 65 years after independence, CAR is now building a seventh Republic that will be fully tokenized, decentralized, and digitally integrated in a bid "to create sustainable value, opportunities, and impact on a global scale".
The independence anniversary was marked by military and civilian parades across the country. The CAR formally achieved its independence from France on Aug. 13, 1960. ■
Members of defense forces march during a parade commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Central African Republic's independence in Bangui, Central African Republic, on Aug. 13, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)