Catherine Samba-Panza

President of Central African Republic

26 June 1954 Fort Lamy, French Equatorial Africa

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23 January 2014 – 30 March 2016

Central African lawyer and politician Secretary Kerry shakes hands with Transitional President Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as well as the eighth woman in Africa to do so. Prior to becoming head of state, she was Mayor of Bangui from 2013 to 2014. She is a non-partisan politician.