[1] Initially, the French government leased large parts of land for European companies and forced the local population to gather wild rubber, hunt for ivory and animal skins, and work on plantations.

Due to forced exploitation by the French colonial empire, Central African locals began to rebel in the early 20th century.

During World War II, Central African soldiers formed part of the grand French colonial army (Troupes coloniales) and fought for Free France and partook in the Liberation of Paris.

On 13 August 1960, Ubangi-Shari obtained its independence from France and changed its name to the Central African Republic (CAR) and Dacko became the country's first President.

Bokassa's coup took place with support or tacit approval of France, which had grown weary of Dacko due to his government establishing relations with China in 1964.

In October 1979, the French newspaper Le Canard enchaîné ran a piece stating that President Giscard had accepted two diamonds while Minister of Finance in 1973 by Bokassa.

[14][15][16] In 1997, Central African President Ange-Félix Patassé negotiated the Bangui Agreements to bring an end to the 1990s conflict between government and rebel forces.

[18][20] In March 2009, French troops were deployed to Bangui after reports that rebels were taking over the capital to remove President François Bozizé from power.

[21] In 2012, a civil war erupted in the Central African Republic when the Séléka militia composed of mostly Muslim rebels removed Bozizé from power in 2013, and installed Michel Djotodia as President.

[28][24] The last French troops left in 2022, after bilateral relations significantly cooled due to the CAR's increasing ties to Russia under Touadéra.