Boali

Boali
The Falls of Boali
Boali Location in Central African Republic
Coordinates: 4°48′N18°7′E / 4.800°N 18.117°E / 4.800; 18.117
Country	Central African Republic
Prefecture	Ombella-M'Poko
Government
• Sub-Prefect	Solange Mokolomboka Soza Makanda [1]
• Mayor	Pierre Poutou [2]
Population  (2012) [3]
• Total	9,314

Boali became the capital city of Ombella-M'Poko prefecture in Central African Republic on December 10 2020 after the former capital of Bimbo was incorporated into Bangui prefecture. ^[4]

Boali is located on National Highway 1 (RN1), ^[5] about 100 km (62 mi) northwest of the national capital, Bangui. ^[6] The road is paved until Bossembélé where the paved section becomes the RN3 towards Bouar and Cameroon while the RN1 continues to Bossangoa, and ultimately to Chad. ^[7]

Situated on the Mbali River, Boali is noted for its waterfalls and for the nearby hydroelectric works. The Falls of Boali are 250 m (820 ft) wide and 50 m (160 ft) high, and are a popular tourist destination. ^[7]

The two units of the Boali Hydroelectric Power Station, Boali I and Boali II, are located below the falls. They have a combined generating power of 18.65 megawatts, and are operated by the state-run Enerca. ^[8] The completion of Boali I in the 1950s spurred several other industrial developments in the town, including the country's first textile mill, which began operating in 1954. ^[9]

The Boali hydroelectric works supply power to the capital and 13 other towns. ^[8]

History

Initial arrangements were made in 2010 for a third hydroelectric plant, Boali 3, to be built with Chinese assistance. ^[10]

Civil war

This strategic role was used by the Seleka rebels in March 2013, who took over the plant on their way to Bangui and shut off power to the city. ^[11] On 17 January 2014 Séléka withdrew from Boali. 300 anti-Balaka fighters entered town killing four civilians ^[12] On 5 December 2015 the city was recaptured by government forces. ^[13]

On 24 December 2020 rebels from Coalition of Patriots for Change attacked Boali. ^[14] They were pushed back by government forces on 11 January 2021. ^[15]

See also

• List of waterfalls

References

1. Oubangui Medias, Oubangui Medias. "Centrafrique : Décrets portant nomination des Gouverneurs, des Préfets et des Sous-Préfets". oubanguimedias.com. Oubangui Medias. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
2. "Transhumance : "Pour nous, la conciliation doit primer entre les parties"". 22 February 2022.
3. "World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-01-11.
4. Oubangui Médias, Oubangui Médias. "La Centrafrique dispose désormais de 20 préfectures et de 84 sous-préfectures". oubanguimedias.com. Oubangi Medias. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
5. "Les Chutes de Boali". BanguiWeb. Archived from the original on 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
6. O'Toole, Thomas (1986). The Central African Republic The Continent's Hidden Heart. Westview Press. p. 123.
7. Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2010). "Chutes de Boali". République Centrafricaine 2010-11. Petit Futé. p. 110. ISBN   2746926075.
8. Kalck, Pierre (2004). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic Third Edition. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   0810849135.
9. Singh, Daleep (2008). Francophone Africa, 1905-2005 A Century of Economic and Social Change. Allied Publishers. p. 201. ISBN   8184242581.
10. "China and Central Africa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
11. "Séléka conquiert enfin la ville de Bangui, les FACA battent en retraite". Radio Ndeke Luka. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
12. "Final report of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic".
13. "Boali: les FACA gagnent du terrain". 10 December 2015.
14. "RCA : Boali, les forces gouvernementales encerclées par les rebelles". 24 December 2020.
15. "Army, UN forces repel two rebel attacks in Central African Republic". 11 January 2021.

External links

• ACP-EU Energy Report