The former French colony officially became the Central African Republic in 1960 upon independence. Located in Central Africa and approximately 622,984 sq km, the country borders Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. Following an extensive history of political turmoil the interim president, the National Transitional Council elected Catherine Sambra-Panza in January 2014 as Chief of State. And the Interim Prime Minister is Andre Nzapayeke following the resignation of Nicolas Tiangaye.