Central African Republic

You cannot miss it in the map, because it’s right there in the middle, just as its name states.

The Central African Republic started as a French colony until it gained its independence in 1958. However, since pretty much the beginning, started the power struggles and the country ended up falling in the hands of Col. Jean-Bédel Bokassa, a certified nutcase. Bokassa quickly turned the repression machine on, decided to transform the republic into an empire (the Central African Empire), where he crowned himself in a ridiculously expensive ceremony, and generally made a spectacle of himself internationally until he was eventually deposed and tried.

Sadly, the nation hasn’t improved much since then, having political instability, high HIV/AIDS rate (about 11%) and being one of the poorest nations in the world.

The whole country is a jungle, which has the potential of attracting hundreds of tourists. Diamonds are its main export, but the poor economic development prevents its full potential.

If you want an idea of Bokassa’s regime, you can watch Echoes from a Somber Empire, made by Werner Herzog.