Presidential elections were held in the
Central African Republic on 15 March 1981.[1] They were the first national elections of any sort since 1964, the first elections since the overthrow of longtime ruler
Jean-Bédel Bokassa in 1979, and the first multiparty presidential elections since independence. Five candidates—incumbent president
David Dacko,
Ange-Félix Patassé, François Pehoua,
Henri Maïdou and
Abel Goumba—stood in the election.
The elections were won by Dacko, who had been restored to power two years earlier as part of
Operation Barracuda, which overthrew
Emperor Bokassa I (Jean-Bédel Bokassa). Dacko tried to pose as the inheritor of
Barthélemy Boganda, the
national hero who founded the country.
Presidential elections were held in the
Central African Republic on 15 March 1981.[1] They were the first national elections of any sort since 1964, the first elections since the overthrow of longtime ruler
Jean-Bédel Bokassa in 1979, and the first multiparty presidential elections since independence. Five candidates—incumbent president
David Dacko,
Ange-Félix Patassé, François Pehoua,
Henri Maïdou and
Abel Goumba—stood in the election.
The elections were won by Dacko, who had been restored to power two years earlier as part of
Operation Barracuda, which overthrew
Emperor Bokassa I (Jean-Bédel Bokassa). Dacko tried to pose as the inheritor of
Barthélemy Boganda, the
national hero who founded the country.