1960 - Independence from France. David Dacko, backed by France, becomes president

1962 - Dacko declares one-party state

1964 - Dacko wins elections in which he is sole candidate

1965 - Dacko overthrown by army commander Jean-Bedel Bokassa

1972 - Bokassa declares himself president for life

1977 - Bokassa has himself crowned "Emperor of the Central African Empire"

1979 - Bokassa kills 100 schoolchildren. Protests mount, prompting France to support a coup restoring Dacko to power

1981 - Dacko ousted in coup by army commander Andre Kolingba, who suspends constitution and imposes military rule

1991 - Political parties allowed to form

1993 - Kolingba agrees to elections, and is defeated by Ange-Felix Patasse, a northerner

1996

Apr - Army deserters from south loot the capital Bangui

Dec - Rival army factions clash in Bangui

1997 - More soldier mutinies. France sends in troops to rescue its expatriates and restore order. They are later replaced by African peacekeepers

2000 - Civil servants organise general strike over lack of pay

2001

May - Libya flies in troops to help put down coup attempt by Kolingba. Chadian troops and Congolese rebels support Patasse

Nov - Soldiers clash with supporters of sacked army commander Francois Bozize, who is accused of organising May's coup attempt. Thousands flee fighting

2002

Jun - More than 50,000 flee more fighting in Bangui

Oct - Libya helps defeat another coup attempt by Bozize

2003

Mar - Bozize launches successful coup, declares himself president, dissolves parliament and imposes military rule

2005

May - Despite having promised to step down, Bozize stands and wins presidential elections, Patasse prevented from taking part

2006

Aug - Heavy rains flood Bangui, 20,000 homeless

Oct - Bozize asks regional allies and France for help to expel rebels responsible for an attack on northeastern town of Birao, near the border with Sudan's Darfur region. Bozize says coalition of anti-Bozize rebels - Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) - is based in Sudan

Nov - U.N. begins humanitarian air service in the north. UFDR captures Birao. Government later ousts rebels with French help. Nearly 45,000 flee to refugee camps in Chad

Dec - U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says it's opening office in Cameroon to cope with 30,000 refugees from Chad and northern CAR. U.N. appeal for $50 million for emergency aid for 1 million people in northern CAR affected by violence

2007

Jan - U.N. Security Council says sending assessment mission to Chad and CAR and calls for recommendations on possibility of formal U.N. presence in both countries

Feb - Government signs peace deal with rebel group the People's Democratic Front (FDPC)

Apr - UFDR also signs peace deal that establishes ceasefire and amnesty for insurgents

May - International Criminal Court launches inquiry into war crimes committed by rebels from Democratic Republic of Congo during 2002-2003 violence in Central African Republic

Sep - U.N. Security Council mandate for U.N. police (MINURCAT) and EU peacekeepers (EUFOR) in Central African Republic and Chad

2008

Mar - EUFOR deployment launched by French troops who were already in the country transferring to the new force

Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony moves to CAR

May - Congolese former rebel warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba arrested on an International Criminal Court warrant, accused of leading Congolese rebels who waged a campaign of rape and torture in CAR in 2002-2003

U.N. says 100,000 displaced by bandit attacks, which have soared since start of year

Government signs ceasefire accord with APRD, the last major rebel group to join a national peace process

Jun - Peace accord signed with APRD and UFDR, leaving space for FDPC, whose leader was unable to make the ceremony

Sep - Parliament passes law granting amnesty to government and rebel fighters for armed actions committed after Jan. 1, 1999. The law forms part of peace process

Dec - Peace talks with government, APRD, UFDR and opposition result in agreement to form consensus government to rule until 2010 presidential elections. Peace pact recommends start of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration process for rebels

2009

Jan - Bozize names new consensus government, but opposition coalition says new government fails to deliver reduction in presidential powers. Rebel attacks continue in north, forcing 4,500 to flee to Chad. U.N. Security Council approves deployment of MINURCAT troops to replace EUFOR in Chad and CAR - 500 troops to be in CAR

Feb - Three rebel groups threaten to resume violence saying Bozize failing to implement December's peace deal

Mar - Peace deal continues to unravel, and rebels infiltrate Bangui, prompting deployment of French troops in capital. Libyan leader Qaddafi hands Bozize letter from three rebel groups demanding adherence to Dec. recommendations. U.N. reports 28,000 displaced in north since fighting intensified in Jan. MINURCAT takes over from EUFOR

Apr - Government-rebel clashes. U.N. decides to establish peacebuilding office for CAR

May - U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports 100 CAR refugees crossing daily into Chad, warns rainy season will cut them off from humanitarian aid