22 Facts About Elisabeth Domitien

Elisabeth Domitien served as the prime minister of the Central African Republic from 1975 to 1976.

Elisabeth Domitien was the first and to date only woman to hold the position, and was the first woman to serve as prime minister of a country in Africa.

Elisabeth Domitien received only rudimentary instruction in reading and writing in a Catholic school and learned cooking and sewing.

Elisabeth Domitien spent much of her time working in the field and helped to sell farm products.

Elisabeth Domitien had a strong personality and was enterprising, making her popular among the village women and an informal leader in the community.

Elisabeth Domitien became head of the women's group in the independence movement, the Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa.

Elisabeth Domitien collaborated closely with Barthelemy Boganda, the founder of the movement, and became president of the party in 1953.

The country became independent in 1960 and Elisabeth Domitien collaborated with the first president of the Central African Republic, David Dacko, and the commander-in-chief, Jean-Bedel Bokassa.

Elisabeth Domitien served as a political adviser both to the leaders and to ordinary people, trying to reconcile different interests and improve the living standards of the population.

Elisabeth Domitien was clever and industrious, appealed to the population and served as a unifying force which Bokassa needed.

Elisabeth Domitien had a cabinet in which the ministers changed constantly and on 2 January 1975 he formed a new government.

Elisabeth Domitien was the first woman to serve as prime minister of an African nation.

Elisabeth Domitien worked to strengthen the income and position of women.

Elisabeth Domitien was criticized by some people in CAR for the support she gave Bokassa.

Elisabeth Domitien was not afraid to voice her opinion, even to the president, and got many people out of jail after they were arrested without trial.

When Elisabeth Domitien opposed the plan, she was promptly fired and her cabinet was dismissed.

Elisabeth Domitien served a brief prison term and was put on trial in 1980, after which she was prohibited from returning to politics.

Elisabeth Domitien received compensation for the unjust treatment she had been exposed to.

Elisabeth Domitien remained a prominent figure, both as a former politician and as a businesswoman, and was buried with official honours when she died in 2005.

Elisabeth Domitien married twice; her first husband was Jean Baka who was an accountant in a river company and commuted back and forth between Bangui and Brazzaville.

Elisabeth Domitien had several wives and did not move when he married Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Domitien lived alone in Bangui, and her husband came to visit her.