The remains of Central African Republic's imperial past

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FRANCE 24's reporters returned to the Central African Republic, 40 years after Jean-Bedel Bokassa crowned himself emperor. Nicknamed the "Central African Napoleon", Bokassa was the protégé of then French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Today, with its dilapidated palaces and abandoned imperial villas, the country is among the world’s poorest, plagued by corruption and civil war.
Jean-Serge Bokassa - one of the 15 sons of Africa’s last emperor, Bokassa the first - has now gone into politics himself. Despite the country's struggles with corruption, poverty and civil war, he is determined to restore the Central African Republic to its former glory. Our reporters went to meet him.
►► Watch our report: The lost children of the Central African Republic
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[@sion8]

When I first heard that this happened I couldn't believe it, I mean most dictators seem satisfied with being President-for-Life, but this guy couldn't be like the others apparently.

[@MainstreamPoPsucks3]

I think he had read too much about Napoleon.

[@alexleung6858]

Without the support of France, he would not be 'crowned'.

[@Eazycree]

@@alexleung6858 Also without France his father would be alive the french killed his father and one of his siblings and he joined the french army

[@demonhunter635]

TheCommunistRationalist How does one be a “communist” and a “rationalist”? That’s like being a pessimistic optimist. Doesn’t exist.

[@Eazycree]

@@demonhunter635 Well I used to be a conservative until one day I was debating a commie and got completely destroyed with facts and it was obvious the commie knew more about capitalism than I did so I bought a copy of das capital read the book did more investigation into communism and I changed my beliefs because only an idiot would think our current economic system is sustainable

[@ZeroSnake]

All his rare items/clothes were imported. Imagine if he put that money into his economy. :facepalm:

[@generalaccount6531]

Inferiority Complex at its worst. The "emperor" reminds me of those guys wearing fake Gucci and gold chains waiting to buy lottery tickets from a cheap liquor store.

[@abhishekchadh]

At any given point in time any emperor splurging extravagantly throughout the course of history never said that I'd rather live a simple life and invest in my economy or help the needful.

[@zero12304]

He sell uranium and diamond to French so...

[@Ragerian]

@///AMG You call him Uncle Tom, I call him seeing the writing on the wall

[@thabiso5792]

@fullmetaljaco have you heard of Botswana or Rwanda

[@jhulvincentcalabia4784]

The French army killed his Dad and brother then he grew up joining the French armed forces and developed some French fetishes? Dafaq man?!

[@illyrianprinc100]

Well Napoleon's dad was a Corsican nationalist and separatist (so was Napoleon until his early 20s) and then went on to become the emperor of France, so yeah stranger things have happened.

[@KayraTheNomad]

that's the magic of france. they are no different then any other imperialist power, even still an empire, but they are not hated.

[@revolutionalist]

Lots of people want to emulate Napoleon no matter what nationality

[@jhulvincentcalabia4784]

Then Napoleon ended up being pummeled by all Nations in Europe.

[@Hans.Dewitt]

@kimi Russia's winter*

[@hillcrestprofessionalservi3502]

The french president supported his coronation and two years later sent troops into the country to overthrow him

[@HuszOG]

@Makabayang Pilipinas There are not any more free countries in the world. The last one was U.S.A and it's libertarian spirit died when the federal reserve was created. Now everyone serves the banks.

[@orangecat3021]

sefred7 the French called him a stupid idiot do you really think they supported him?

[@guavaguavanomi5441]

Master race much? Keep your so called freedom and democracy on your own soil warmonger race! We don't need your help!? Self interest Disguised as humanitarian or financial or military etc as HELP? PWEEEE!! 🤮

[@robertlevine2827]

Then-President of France Valery Giscard d'Estaing was very friendly w/Bokassa, but France's foreign ministry hated him and felt, rightly, that it was a total embarrassment for France to be supporting this monster. They argued for years to d'Estaing to cut ties with him. D'Estaing finally listened when Bokassa personally beat to death a teenage protester against his rule. Incidentally, the protest was over the fact that he required all schoolchildren to wear uniforms sold by a company owned by his wife at exorbitant prices.

[@amagnonbaba3560]

Hi, this is the 24h quick return affection comment for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@tomasfialhoafonso2257]

Was it just me or did anyone else notice when he said “he over took power in 1996”?

[@hailgiratinathetruegod7564]

The time manipulation powers of the greatst emperor in history

[@nigelfranciscarty8887]

Yes, that's what I heard too..

[@Montes88r]

Tomas Fialho Afonso he’s an idiot 1966*

[@ytuser2272]

Yep, heard that too

[@planetmedia2562]

I heard that too

[@Burner_Acc]

Watching fools like Bokassa and Mobutu makes me appreciate Nyerere of Tanzania even more. The unsung hero for Africa.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

You know what? Fair play to his son for agreeing to take part and going back to the Imperial palace. He could have easily ran away to Europe but in a way, he is owning who his father was for better or worse. I respect that kind of accountability and by forging a role in the new CAR.

[@cherriebrown6737]

Haya Glamazon that is not his accountability to take. Do you take accountability for your parents decisions?

[@151605able]

You reckon Haya???

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

@@cherriebrown6737 In a situation like Bokassa's, he would be seen as other citizens as complicit and having to bear some sort of burden even though none of this is his fault. African culture is big on collective identity. I am proud of him for not running away when it could have been the easy thing to do.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

what brand is his new car?

[@muhammedarafahsalim8744]

Whenever a dictator is overthrown the country usually goes in long term turmoil

[@Sama7941]

What is currently happening to my country, ZIMBABWE.

[@hussien04]

That's exactly what happened in my country Iraq

[@Alex_FRD]

It's sad to see that the same people who deposed a despot are now wishing for another one.

[@febrian0079]

Jean-Bédel Bokassa: "In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Central African Republic will be reorganized into the first Central African Empire, for a safe and secure society

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

He loves democracy.

[@cedricliggins7528]

Empires are nothing new in Africa.

[@flyingisaac2186]

It is unexpected to read of people nostalgic for Jean-Bedel Bokassa, but I suppose times are very hard there now.

[@opdjasin]

100 kids were murdered because they refused to wear school uniforms with his image on them but he still somehow managed to spend the last years of his life as a normal person outside the prison.

[@archipiratta]

I'm surprised nobody burst out laughing when he read that proclamation 🤣

[@mohamedenahmed9799]

Maybe they didn’t want to know what 600f in the oven feels like

[@sentenalexezung1071]

With all its own defect. That was the last of a stable govt. Many times if we take political advice outside of the country.. it is never for your benefit... It is for the benefit of the advising country. ...after him tribalism, nepotism came back... Thereafter, it's chaos. Our present democratic government are no different. It's the same with a different outlook and more better public image.

[@nonamedyrseth8571]

French operative agents Was like: oki this one is dumb enough😭💀

[@denismutabazi]

What is ironic is, the French cut off the head of their own king to embrace "égalité, actualité, ... Only to create an emperor in one of the smallest countries in the world.

[@loreCarbonell]

Not only they beheaded Louis XVI, they also literally buried his first son and heir in a tower and made him starving to death

[@priscamolotsi]

At 00:34: He did not take over in 1996, Mr. Reporter! Terrible mistake!

[@francisxavier9736]

priscamolotsi so you heard it. 🤗🤗🤗

[@sethk2384]

I noticed that too

[@kelvinw.1384]

He also spent 30 million not 20 million. Over 5 million was for the jewels.

[@alexcholagh8330]

his son took over the line in succession in 1996.

[@nationalist1910]

I think the problem is the name of the country. Centeral Africa is more of a position on the vast african continent. There is no unilateral identity.

[@firstnamelastname-uw6vq]

The problem are the borders tbh. So many ethnic groups in countries descended from administrative divisions of once upon the time colonies. It's like the Balkans but if all Balkan countries are one republic, bunch of ethnicities, one spark and you have bunch of rebels pushing for more power, fighting each other, foreign powers selling weapons to people who barely have water or food and a powerless republic barely existing only due to support of outside powers. I think the only solution is a radical one, but redrawing the borders. Village by village, town by town. Establishing countries with identities and with western democratic type of government. Otherwise the only thing we'll see in the future for some African countries is civil wars, rebellions and people struggling. I mean their gdp is like 2 billion for a country with like 5 million people. It's sad. Also has many resources. Either strong government to bring order to the country and embrace all ethnicities into the government or balkanization of every rump states in Africa.

[@mikoym8307]

This was a cosplay gone wrong!!!!!

[@subsonicwoofer5183]

How to **NOT** run a country

[@carapo66]

A former French colony? No surprises here. Move along, please.

[@igbotimehopper64yearsago46]

British Colonies Gang

[@davec1615]

lol the clown put on european royal style clothing and gave his oath in french

[@crasu3226]

since the the central african republic was a former french colony, french is an official language of the central african republic

[@vtron9832]

Besides, there were many pre colonial native languages, and I'm not sure which group Bokassa belonged to. Banda? Baya?

[@truthjuice4798]

Lol

[@jeremylinah8078]

Thatclown hosting inhell shame that boy donthaveajob

[@StevioGaming1]

Maybe cos they speak French?

[@fral-homosexualrebel9888]

I love the Central African Republic. I hope that the conflict between the rebel groups ends, that poverty diminishes and this beautiful country resurfaces. Greetings from Caracas, Venezuela. Amo a la República Centroafricana. Espero que el conflicto entre los grupos rebeldes termine, que la pobreza disminuya y este hermoso país resurja. Saludos desde Caracas, Venezuela.

[@vtron9832]

I'm from Puerto Rico and half Venezuelan, I know what is happening there now, I hope that you guys get better too

[@shawnreed7876]

I visited Central African Republic July 2018. Such a sad country. Has so much potential but is held back by conflict and corruption. I haven't been to Venezuela, but from what I have read your country is in a similar situation. I hope your country can heal. Greetings from America.

[@lauricedjepeno3087]

I’m from central Africa republic and I hope one day I’ll be able to go back and help my people do better

[@SUNPEOPLEPRODUCTIONS]

Raul you have been ?

[@anthroimperzia3927]

You just wanna turn that place into your pfp 😑

[@gangstaworldtv]

Very informative

[@onelove-qg7xg]

The worst to happen to central Africa..

[@mjelombilini7628]

His children ended up, begging for food in the streets of Europe, a very perplexed ignorant man.

[@jahbless4063]

mjelo mbilini really?

[@jonathanm4019]

I doubt he cares every man for himself

[@mjelombilini7628]

@@jahbless4063 yeah, a relevant source tells all .

[@jahbless4063]

James Pelobello I dint know that’s great 😀

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Stop lying. His kids are well off and fine.

[@yanuchiuchihaanimegamesand3907]

He only spent 25% of the state budget!? AMATEUR!!! *realizes that a few years back his own homeland spent 70% of it's budget 'building' monuments and other shit just because the [at the time] prime minister said so*

[@hailgiratinathetruegod7564]

*I NEED INFORMATIONS TO THIS STORY*

[@donbryant58]

Was he also king of all of the animals and all the fish in the sea? \

[@fahoodie1852]

Don Bryant lmao the Central African Republic didn’t even have a coastline

[@haroldflowers8182]

@@fahoodie1852 its a idi amin reference

[@fahoodie1852]

Harold flowers Uganda intensifies

[@harveysmith100]

I think that post was already filled

[@harveysmith100]

@///AMG So you are from CAR

[@janreyabuan970]

Back when some African leaders are like comedy sitcoms.

[@Eza_yuta]

Central Africa is so poor even vandals can't afford spray paint and use black crayon instead to vandalize old building.

[@Tunawesmake]

It's engraving. It's more permanent/harder to correct than paint ☺️

[@Eza_yuta]

@@Tunawesmake That's evil

[@Farhan917]

Africa is cursed with selfishness and greed.

[@jeremyhaines4481]

This is very interesting

[@electricangel4488]

stability can be the greatest virtue for a state. but it is also the most under valued people usually dont cling to dictators they cling to the stability they made for them self and there country

[@BookofFuture]

He was Probably inspired by Napoleon and Dessalines.

[@harveysmith100]

He was inspired by Napoleon, yes.

[@lilchickennugget8155]

Harvey Smith yes ,very much inspired that he had the same people make his outfits.

[@NapoleonBonaparde]

Comparing this fool to Napoleon...

[@imperator692]

@@NapoleonBonaparde Looks like you would probably do the same as this fool if you had control of a country

[@fahoodie1852]

Imperator The only difference was that Napoleon could actually run a country and defeat a continent 4 times, as opposed to getting overthrown after killing children over school uniforms

[@makulaeriana7503]

I just wonder everyday wht kind of devil is in our African leader's dear God help us

[@harrybarry4158]

France was like, "we won the jackpot. Found the dumbest leader of all time"

[@DoubleMrE]

I must say that his scepter with the little crown on top is very cool. I mean, he *_was_* a dick, but he did have a really cool scepter.

[@rickjames21]

I remember my Dad telling me about this. Thats how you ball out son.

[@sylviawilson9688]

This is the man who beheaded his enemies and stored their heads in the freezer.

[@senorswordfish6019]

That "coronation palace" looks like a typical Sports gym in my city.

[@henryymukasa_AfricanBoy]

It was later turned into a sports house

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@LordDim1]

@praise the swordfish, you damned heretics That’s because they demolished the Coronation Palace after the fall of the empire, and built that

[@stephendetarczynski4246]

I actually thought this would be about the CAR's pre-independence history as a French colony but no mention of this brutal period at all.

[@Rollify]

This is state owned media after all...

[@YachtRockFiend]

Did you read the title of the video?

[@aymarafan7669]

First learned about Bokassa from Geography Now actually.

[@dingdong5908]

It feels like watching watching a birthday without anyone attending it

[@byakuya_Hanqhal]

10:29 jack Bauer

[@millardlim981]

Nostalgia for dictators and sultanistic rulers. We see that in many parts of the world. In recent years there's even nostalgia for Middle Eastern dictators - Saddam Hussain, Moammar Qaddafi, Hosni Mubarak, etc. People always yearn for a "golden past" that is seen to be much better than the chaotic, mediocre, and corrupt present. CAR today is drenched in civil war between Christians and Muslims. It is natural I suppose for the simple people there to look back to a Muslim self-proclaimed emperor who was enthroned and crowned in a Roman Catholic cathedral with a Roman Catholic cardinal present.

[@owenbeharry8478]

mlim there is nostalgia of the Marcos regime the Philippine and Soviet Union for people of the Soviet block.

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@carltomacruz9138]

Bokassa was Muslim?

[@jackyex]

@@carltomacruz9138 He was only for a short period during 1976 after meeting with Gaddafi, but later that same year he converted back to catholicism.

[@mishacknthane1060]

When Idi Amin saw bokassa for the first time, he was angry to be outshined by bokasa who wore military attire glittered from neck were medals which he had bestowed on himself, Amin quickly ordered his dressers to knit the similar uniform

[@zelnando]

Baby Doc from Haiti chilling @1:22!!!

[@TheHippoBLT]

lol what a guy

[@JJMHigner]

It's not even that the title had been assumed its the WAY he went about doing it. A dress uniform and a simple yet elegant ceremony would have been fine, as well as a basic Napoleonic-style throne and constitutional council to aide in his reign. This would have been a more thoughtful or (at least tolerable) event if anyone was going to do this at all.

[@semkoops]

I hope the people of the CAF will have a better future. It's sad to see a country so rich in natural beauty and caring people decline like that.

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@ragsaea9609]

Lol, the irony is he want to restore the country to former glory(empire)😂😂😂

[@johnroddy8756]

What part of Imperial did he not understand .

[@gideonhorwitz9434]

Napoleon wannabe

[@justme-hh4vp]

Why doesn't the presenter mention the lady reporter, she is the first named journalist and the narrator? That ceremony was a Poundland version of what the Shah of Iran laid on for his 2500 year empire anniversary. They're still trying to calculate the total cost and France did rather well out of that too!

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@kwakukusi8997]

oh africa 😢

[@masawemcfranco7111]

got to say he can really pull of the look though. he's a monster but credit where credits due

[@deepfreezer1583]

Just like George bush (weapons of mass destruction)

[@shanetonkin2850]

@deep freezer - no, not really.

[@manfromthepast]

Was that Duvalier at 1:22?

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@henryymukasa_AfricanBoy]

Every person has a dream and Pinto's dream was to be an emperor

[@user-ej3iw8lw3w]

ça été difficile

[@Duwor]

0:52 that little girl said it all 😭😂🙅🏿‍♂️ "Imagine we are hungry in this country and this useless man is wasting money anyhow." She said, "I think he needs a psychiatrist."

[@techmoso4880]

Korvah Duwor Jr I believe that’s Bokassa’s son the one who gave the tour of the palace later in the vid

[@LordDim1]

Techmoso No, the one who gave the tour was Prince Jean-Serge Bokassa. The boy at 0:52 is his brother, Crown Prince Jean-Bedel Bokassa II, Bokassa’s heir and the current claimant to the Central African throne

[@giuseppersa2391]

Utterly shocking and nothing much has changed

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@crowncommunicationventure9729]

This guy took it to a whole new level in terms of insanity

[@teddyambachew2073]

why french colonies are still in trouble than the british one ?

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

Part of me wishes he wasn't a madman and was sucessful

[@MK-nd2ij]

ridiculous indeed

[@larsenvillaranda5862]

so you're not ashamed of your father' and his actions? wow

[@oJoJo]

Kangz n shiet

[@deepfreezer1583]

French whites and chit

[@thecraplordsell4575]

What are you cumskins doing here.

[@fromrussiawithlove8480]

@@thecraplordsell4575 Ruling over you, like always.

[@cedricliggins7528]

1:22 Baby Doc. President Duvalier of Haiti.

[@alfredhitchcock45]

Lots of mud streets. There aren’t any concrete roads?

[@Eza_yuta]

They think concrete road is not necessary there.

[@SA-yn6pg]

mel saint most roads are concrete, but it has been covered by sand.

[@yourneighbourhooddoomer]

It's Africa what do you expect?

[@rsouthafrican7516]

@malcolm caden only place wakanda is is in the dreams of some Africans...

[@arturocevallossoto5203]

Upkeep for paved roads is VERY expensive in very humid areas.

[@toobalkain]

what monarchies were there in the Bokassa empire, there had to be at least two for this to have been an empire, one possibly Bokassa's own kingdom, CAR, but which was the second one, what African king had to accept Bokassa as his uberking?

[@zero12304]

How much uranium and diamond you got from him?

[@opedunjames4550]

Its so funny how they thought he was terrible but yet the country is worse off than it was under him.

[@draft3753]

Damn Boy

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@johannesvonmalos7505]

Now how should an newly made African empire be run for the betterment of the nation?

[@abbasssabbah9183]

I went there to work and I can assure it the poorest African country and if not the poorest in the world but strange in my 2 years of working there I made huge money the people are really nice and u can see the country was destroyed by greed of its political leaders it Is really a shame and a pitty because the country have huge resources

[@dreemlite5950]

His son would make a great Emperor and leader

[@sargewilliepete2174]

Sigh...

[@Solisium-Channel]

Well that was embarrassing

[@wanrazul]

8:20 "skep-ter"? should be "sep-ter" the c is silent

[@mannehnasalimata1249]

His father create timing boom and it exploit. He is saying what

[@houstonburnside8985]

So African palpatine.

[@ebbek6065]

We should also hold the enabler’s accountable. In this case he wouldn’t have gotten to this position without France playing the Architect. Nothing gets done without the colonizer’s blessings. Notice when they were done with him, they threw him out right away.

[@amagnonbaba3560]

hello quick return of affection 24h for anything you want to contact me on my WhatsApp [phone]

[@tkautzor]

the Oubangui river doesn't cross through the heart of the C.A.R., it flows on its edge, marking the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

[@JATP-wp6eh]

🇫🇷

[@amagnonbaba3560]

Salut Pour ce que tu veux continuer moi suis mon whatsApp [phone]

[@Zombie_Dingo]

A quarter of the state's budget? Trash

[@sahrsamuelsesay3800]

He was a good man

[@KewlkatNDahat]

What I get here is , looking at the end results today, country doesn’t seem better off after his ruling ended. Even the opposition agree somebody that is firm like this bloke was but without the extra would be better today.

[@prokopanda]

Bokassa was the solution to this problems the central African republic is a complete mess today.

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

What happened to all his "imperial regalia".

[@rfk3348]

Where is Jean-Bedel Bokassa's throne ?

[@LordDim1]

It disappeared, but a few years ago the internal skeleton of it was found, and it now stands as a monument in Bangui

[@AcquahEmmanuelBaiden]

he took power 11 years earlier... in a1996? How can you make that mistake in your opening address?

[@greedyweeb8368]

The old men at the end are woke. Wish they had more of them

[@samueleweka]

Well he achieved his dream..

[@badabeambadaboom7074]

Been living here for 26 years and never been in this mf

[@SenorTucano]

To be an empire you must control external territory. The CAR fails that test.

[@Joobajuba]

All their these houses become s ruens. Mabutu, Tolbat, Doe. Etc. Yaya Jammehs is the next.

[@antondemidov6206]

The African equivalent of the shah of Iran without trying to modernize the nation first.

[@aprilschauer4864]

The sha was also an canibal?..

[@manuelwole2005]

😂😂😂😂. That is madness

[@cjgangi0123]

How did they do a story on Bokassa and leave out the cannibalism?

[@ohyeahnahui8159]

The coronation were sponsored by france 😂😂😂