Ange-Félix Patassé

5th President of Central African Republic

January 25, 1938 Paoua, Ouham-Pendé, Ubangi-Shari

April 5, 2011(2011-04-05) (73) Douala, Cameroon

October 22, 1993 – March 15, 2003

Central African politician Ange-Félix Patassé (January 25, 1938 – April 5, 2011) was a Central African politician who was President of Central African Republic from 1993 until 2003, when he was deposed by the rebel leader François Bozizé. Patassé was the first president in the CAR's history (since 1960) to be chosen in what was generally regarded as a fairly democratic election (1993) in that it was brought about by donor pressure on President André Kolingba and assisted by the United Nations Electoral Assistance Unit. He was chosen a second time in a fair election (1999) as well. However, during his first term in office (1993–1999), three military mutinies in 1996–1997 led to increasing conflict between so-called "northerners" (like Patassé) and "southerners" (like his predecessor President André Kolingba). Expatriate mediators and peacekeeping troops were brought in to negotiate peace accords between Patassé and the mutineers and to maintain law and order. During his second term as president, Patassé increasingly lost the support of many of his long-time allies as well as the French, who had intervened to support him during his first term in office. Patassé was ousted in March 2003 and went into exile in Togo.