Bangui in full force - CAR celebrates 66 years of independence with massive military parade

Footage shows Touadera arriving before taking his seat alongside senior officials. Cadets, infantry, special forces, bomb disposal units and female soldiers march past the reviewing stand, followed by motorbike units, military vehicles and armoured vehicles.

The celebrations came several months after Touadera was sworn in for a third term on March 30, following a disputed election in which the Constitutional Council declared him the winner with 77.9 per cent of the vote. His third term was made possible by constitutional changes approved in 2023 that removed presidential term limits.

In his Independence Day address, Touadera reportedly acknowledged the challenges still facing the country, saying 'the road to development is still long' and calling on citizens to work together to build a more stable and prosperous CAR.

The parade also highlighted efforts to strengthen the country's Armed Forces, or FACA, through recruitment, training and military cooperation. Rwanda has trained thousands of Central African soldiers in recent years as part of a bilateral defence partnership.

Touadera praised the armed forces for helping restore state authority and thanked MINUSCA, as well as Russian and Rwandan forces, for their support.

The Central African Republic gained independence from France on August 13, 1960, after previously being administered as the French territory of Ubangi-Shari.