Catherine Samba-Panza

Who is Catherine Samba-Panza?

Catherine Samba-Panza is a Central African lawyer and businesswoman who built her career in the insurance sector before entering public life. She served as Mayor of Bangui, the capital, from 2013, a role that gave her prominence as the country descended into severe sectarian conflict between the mostly Muslim Séléka coalition and the mostly Christian anti-balaka militias. In January 2014, amid this crisis, the National Transitional Council elected her as interim Transitional President of the Central African Republic, making her the first woman to serve as head of state in the country's history. Positioned as a unifying, non-partisan figure without ties to the armed factions, she worked to stabilize the security situation, oversee humanitarian relief with international and United Nations support, and organize a path back to constitutional order. Her transitional government prepared and carried out the 2015-2016 constitutional referendum and presidential election, and in March 2016 she formally handed power to the newly elected President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Samba-Panza has continued to be active in Central African political and civil society life since leaving office.

Sources: BBC News, "Profile: Catherine Samba-Panza" (2014) · Reuters, coverage of the Central African Republic transitional government (2014-2016) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Catherine Samba-Panza"