A republic in central Africa lying south of CHAD, west of SUDAN, north of DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, and east of CAMEROON. In 1906 it united with Chad to form the French colony of Ubangi-Shari-Chad and, through various changes in status, achieved independence in 1960. The earlier name Ubangi-Shari comes from the Bantu u (land or country) + bangi (rapid), with reference to the current of the river and territory through which it flows, and Shari or Chari, a native word for river. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p233 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p370, 562).