Haute‑Kotto (French for “Upper Kotto”) is one of the sixteen prefectures of the Central African Republic (CAR). It is situated in the southeastern part of the country and is named after the upper reaches of the Kotto River, which flows through the region.
Geography
Haute‑Kotto covers an area of approximately 86,650 km² (33,470 sq mi), making it the largest prefecture by land area in the Central African Republic. It shares international borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and the Central African Republic’s own prefectures of Ubangi to the west, Bamingui‑Bangoran to the north, and Haut‑Mbomou to the east. The terrain is characterized by a mix of savanna, forested river valleys, and low plateaus. The Kotto River, a tributary of the Ubangi River, traverses the prefecture from north‑west to south‑east, providing an important water resource for agriculture and transport.
Administrative centre
The capital of Haute‑Kotto is Bangassou, a town located on the banks of the Mbomou River near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bangassou serves as the primary administrative, commercial, and logistical hub for the prefecture.
Political administration
The prefecture is administered by a Prefect appointed by the central government of the Central African Republic. It is subdivided into several sub‑prefectures (also called communes), each headed by a Sub‑Prefect. The principal sub‑prefectures include:
- Bangassou (capital)
- Bambari‑Kouango
- Kembé
- Dédé‑M’Boka
Demographics
According to the 2003 national census, Haute‑Kotto had a population of approximately 225,000 inhabitants. The population is ethnically diverse, with the Zande (Azande) people constituting the majority group. Other ethnic communities include the Gbaya, Fulani (Peul), and various smaller groups. The predominant languages are Sango (the national lingua franca), French (the official language), and local languages such as Zande.
Economy
The economy of Haute‑Kotto is primarily based on subsistence agriculture, livestock rearing, and small‑scale fishing. Main crops include cassava, millet, sorghum, maize, and groundnuts. The region also possesses timber resources due to its forested river valleys. Formal mining activities are limited, although artisanal extraction of gold and other minerals has been reported in parts of the prefecture.
Infrastructure
Transportation infrastructure is underdeveloped. The main road network consists of unpaved routes linking Bangassou with other towns and with the national capital, Bangui, located about 600 km to the northwest. River transport on the Kotto and Mbomou rivers provides limited navigation for goods and passengers during the rainy season. Health and education facilities are sparse, with most services concentrated in Bangassou.
Security and humanitarian situation
Haute‑Kotto has experienced periodic insecurity due to the presence of armed groups operating in eastern CAR. These conflicts have led to internal displacement of populations and periodic humanitarian emergencies. International NGOs and United Nations agencies have conducted assistance programmes focused on food security, shelter, and health care.
History
The area that now constitutes Haute‑Kotto was incorporated into the French colonial territory of Ubangi‑Shari in the early 20th century. Following the independence of the Central African Republic in 1960, the prefecture system was established, and Haute‑Kotto was delineated as an administrative unit. Over the decades, the prefecture has remained relatively under‑populated compared with the national average, owing to its remote location and limited economic development.
References
- Central African Republic Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, “Administrative divisions of the CAR,” accessed 2024.
- Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (INSE), “Recensement Général de la Population et du Logement 2003,” Central African Republic.
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Humanitarian Response Plan: Central African Republic (2023–2024).”
(All information reflects publicly available data up to 2024; no speculative content is included.)