Satema is a
sub-prefecture of
Basse-Kotto
Basse-Kotto is one of the 16 and the least populated prefecture of the Central African Republic. Its capital is Mobaye
Mobaye is a settlement with a population of 7,176 (2003 census) in the Basse-Kotto prefecture of Central African Republic. ...
in the
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
.
Geography
The city is located on the right bank and facing the rapids of the
Ubangi River
The Ubangi River (), also spelled Oubangui, is the largest right-bank tributary of the Congo River in the region of Central Africa. It begins at the confluence of the Mbomou (mean annual discharge 1,350 m3/s) and Uele Rivers (mean annual discharge ...
, which is the border with
Congo DRC. Towards the North, a rural track connects the locality with the RN2 national road at the locality of Dimbi.
History
On August 15, 1891, during the Gaillard expedition, the gunboat ''Le Ballay'' sank in the rapids of Satéma. The administrative control point of Satema was created on July 9, 1982 in the municipality of
Kotto-Oubangui. In 2002, the locality is erected in sub-prefecture.
Civil war
In early January 2013,
Séléka
Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sélà ...
rebels arrived in Satema following withdrawal of armed forces. They kidnapped a woman and pillaged several building including state institutions and the Catholic Church. In November 2016 it was reported that Satema was under the control of the rebel group known as the
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC, french: Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic which controls southern parts of the country.
History
UPC was formed on 17 September 2014 by A ...
. Since at least 2017, it is under control of
anti-balaka
The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
militias which reportedly as of 2019 engage in forced marriage, kidnappings and ritual killings in the subprefecture. On 4 April 2021 it was reported that 50 Anti-balaka fighters led by General Ndagou with automatic weapons were based in Satema.
Economy
The sub-prefecture is located in a zone of maize, cassava, peanut and rice food crops. Commercial crops are cotton, tobacco and coffee.
[Commission nationale de la coopération décentralisée]
''Projet: Favoriser l'accès à l'eau potable''
2009
References
{{coord, 4, 18, N, 21, 41, E, display=title, region:CF_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki
Sub-prefectures of the Central African Republic
Populated places in the Central African Republic