CENTRAFRIQUE - CENTRAFRICAN REPUBLIC ORDERS & MEDALS

[heusy68]

Without knowing why, I found a version of the Cross of Military Valour with a rhino head,instead of the buffalo head. Maybe a change made after the fall of Bokassa.

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

In 1969 was created the Medal of Sports Merit of the Centrafrican Republic. It is a 3 classes medal that can more or less be considered as an Order.

It exist some variation in the suspension barrel of this award.The one shown below is an early one from the 70ies with good quality enamel.

Emmanuel

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

In 1969 was also created the Medal of Honour for the Police.

It is a single class medal.

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

Another medal was created in 1969, the Medal of Courage & Devotion ( Medaille du Courage et du Dévouement ). It is mainly an award for civil act of valour & life saving.It is a 3 classes medal.

Actually this medal is very rare,and I have never seen one in silver or in gilt.

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

Among the more often seen medals of the Centrafrican Republic that collector can easyly found is the Medal of Labour.

It is a 4 Classes medal,created in 1962. The classes are named : bronze,silver,silver-gilt & gold.

Here below you can see from left to right : Gold Medal , Silver Medal & Bronze Medal ,the last one of a rarer version issued during the short period of time during which Centrafrique was an Empire (1976-1979).

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

And their reverse.

[heusy68]

Here a close-up on the Gold Medal of Labour.

[heusy68]

Here a close-up on the Silver Medal of Labour

[heusy68]

Here a close-up on the Bronze Medal of Labour,this one from the era of the Centrafrican Empire ( 1976-1979 ).

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

I have also to mention the Medal of Honour for the Mothers created on 3 June 1966. This award is a 3 classes medals ,bronze,silver & gold for being awarded to mothers of respectively 7,10 & 13 children.

There was 80 bronze & 50 silver medal to be given per year ,with no limit for the gold medal.

Jean Bedel Bokassa knew about women very much.During his life he had married 19 women and had 40 children that were recognised by him.Read the following link (I invented nothing).

http://mysite.verizon.net/respzyir/jean-bedel-bokassa/id9.html

Below you can see such a Gold Medal for Mothers.That one was awarded during the Empire (1976-1979).

The reverse is blank.

Emmanuel

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

Jean Bedel Bokassa liked very much to wear all (or the maximum) of breast star he could wear.Here are some exemple of picture taken from the net.The second picture is taken in Vatican,when Président Bokassa was going to met Pope Paul VI in 1970. He's wearing 12 breast star on his right chest !!!

In english : http://en.wikipedia....3%A9del_Bokassa

In french : http://fr.wikipedia....n-Bedel_Bokassa

Here a lot of pictures : http://mysite.verizon.net/respzyir/jean-bedel-bokassa/index.html

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

The current President of Centrafrique ,François Bozizé only display the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit & the Grand Master Collar of the Order of Merit.

In english : http://en.wikipedia....ois_Boziz%C3%A9

In french : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Boziz%C3%A9

Emmanuel

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

Because it is part of modern history,I cannot resist to post some of the picture of the Coronation Ceremony held in Bangui on 4 December 1977. On this pictures Bokassa is wearing the Collar of Operation Bokassa with as Grand Master Collar Badge a crown added to the badge.

Here a link in french made by one of the grand son of Bokassa who live in France : http://www.abidjantalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7584

It is in french,but there is also a lot of pictures from the coronation ceremony.

Emmanuel

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

Another picture from the Coronation Ceremony.

[heusy68]

Here are some pictures taken shortly after the Coronation itself and during the banquet.

On the left picture you can see the Collar of the Order of Operation Bokassa.Unfortunately I haven't being able to found a better picture.

Emmanuel

Edited April 26, 2011 by heusy68

[heusy68]

On this picture taken in the 70ies Jean Bedel Bokassa is wearing 18 breast star....!!! He's side by side with Idi Amin Dada from Uganda who just wear his ribbon bar.

Emmanuel

[heusy68]

A non wearable 70 millimeters medal was struck for the proclamation of the Empire on 4 December 1976. The Coronation Ceremony was to be held exactly one year later.

Emmanuel

[Chris Boonzaier]

What a fantastic collection!!!

I was in and around Bangui for 4 months in the early 90s... at the time managed to get some badges for the State Presidents guard.... but found no medlas... now I know where they all are !

[oamotme]

Excellent Emmanuel - you really are the expert when it comes to African awards.

Regards, Owain

[Megan]

Thank you for sharing... and for distracting me from working on a presentation for my next job interview!

[drclaw]

Thanks Emmanuel!

I've always been fascinated by the comic-tragedy that was Emperor Bokassa the First (and last) ever since reading about his exploits in one of those '100 Greatest Dictators of All Time' books.

Those 18 breast stars are wearing him down. He is almost crouching bow-legged in the photo next to Idi Amin!

Gavin

[ilja559]

Thank you,Emmanuel !!!

[Megan]

I am in the process of updating the Central African Republic section of my website, so shall share this 'gem' that has not appeared in this thread.

Officer class of the Ordre de la Reconnaissance Centreafricaine:

[Picture credit: John Fitzgerald]

[Megan]

And another, the Officer class of the Empire period (1976-1979) of the Order of Operation Bokassa:

[Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

[Karhu]

The Order of Reconciliation was created on 28 January 2019 by the Decree № 19.220 of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on the occasion of the signing of the "Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in the Central African Republic" in Khartoum (Sudan) .

French Wikipedia provides further information: 

https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordre_de_la_Réconciliation_de_la_République_centrafricaine

Regards

Karhu