Background
He is a son of Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who ruled the Central African Republic from 1966 to 1979.
He is a son of Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who ruled the Central African Republic from 1966 to 1979.
Born in Bangui in 1972, Jean-Serge was a son of Bokassa and Joelle Aziza Eboulia (1955–2001). He was enrolled at a Swiss boarding school when his father was overthrown. As a result, he was taken out of the school and along with other family members went into exile in Gabon.
The family eventually returned from exile and Jean-Serge was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly of the Central African Republic.
While speaking warmly of his father, saying that he was a loving family man and "a patriot" who was the victim of "character assassination by media", he has described Bokassa"s creation of a monarchy as "indefensible".