After handing it over to the Republic of The Gambia, which will chair the African Caucus 2026 (the Group of African Governors of the IMF and the World Bank Group), the authorities of the Central African Republic (CAR), which held the African Caucus 2025 Presidency, presented the two Bretton Woods institutions with a symbolic gift reflecting one of the enduring traditions of the Central African Republic. These are two paintings of butterfly wings with the image of the President of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Thus, on October 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C., Mr. Hervé Ndoba, Minister of Finance and Budget and CAR’s Governor to the IMF, in his capacity as Chair of the African Caucus 2025, presented Ms. Coralie Gevers, Chief of Staff to World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, with the latter’s gift in his absence.
As the Minister pointed out, through the CAR art, these traditional paintings give butterflies a “second life.” Indeed, butterflies naturally have a very short lifespan, progressing from egg to larva to chrysalis before becoming an adult butterfly. Mr. Ndoba stated that by presenting this painting, CAR sought to “immortalize” its appreciation to the WBG for all the support provided to the country. On behalf of the WBG President, the Chief of Staff thanked the CAR authorities and praised the artistic quality and richness of CAR, while reiterating the WBG’s appreciation for the role the country played during its presidency of the African Caucus 2025.
This painting was created by Mr. Yvon Dasso, a CAR artist known for his resilience and determination to succeed despite the challenges he faces every day as a person with a reduced mobility. Drawing on his knowledge and expertise, he explained to the President of the African Caucus 2025 that each color in this painting represents a specific butterfly, as presented below:
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Papilio bromius | Graphium polycenes | Nepheronia Argia | Charaxes epijasius | Cymothoe hyarbita |
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Charaxes etheocles | Pieris calypso | Nepheronia talassina | Cymothoe sangaris | Cymothoe theobene |
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Cymothoe reinholdi | Cymothoe hermenia | Salamis cacta | Pieris belenois theora | Charaxes subornatus |
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Charaxes smaragdalis | Eurema hecabe |
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Overview of the African Caucus 2025
African Caucus 2025 in Bangui, Central African Republic: A Success Story
