Gongola

Gongola
Motto: Work, Prosperity, Victory
Anthem: Work, Prosperity, Victory
Capital and cities		Trubo
Official languages		Codexian
Demonym		Gongolian
Type		Dictatorship
Legislature		Department of Governance
Area
-	Total	21,400 km2 8,263 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.26
Population
-	2017 estimate	251693
GDP (nominal)		2016 estimate
-	Total	$4.284 billion
-	Per capita	$17020
HDI (2016)		0.548<ref name="HDI">Calculated using UNDP data for the member states with weighted population.</ref> medium
Currency		Gongo
Date format		Month/Day/Year
Internet TLD		.go

Gongola is a country in Northeastern Gondwana. It is bordered by Woyunta on the north, Jolokmitu in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Gongola has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Gongola has a total area of 21,400 km2 (13,297 sq mi) and a population of 251,693 (based on 2017 national census).

Gongola is divided into four geographical regions: the Coastal Province, Southern Province, Northern Province and the Delta Area, which are subdivided into fourteen districts. Trubo is the capital, largest city and its economic and political center. Bolo is the second largest city. The other major cities are Kenamo, Makoni, and Kozoi Town.

Gongola became an independent Nation on April 27, 1992, lead by Donald van Zandt, who instilled his own government in the region. A foreigner multi-billionaire with an army of hired guns carved their claim and maintain it's borders.

From 1992 to 2002, the Gongolan Bush War was fought. This war left more than 10,000 people dead and some of the country's infrastructure destroyed.

Codexian is the official language spoken at schools, government administration, and is the most widely spoken language across Gongola and is spoken by 97% of the country's population.

Gongola has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base. It is also among the largest producers of titanium and bauxite, a major producer of gold, and has one of the world's largest deposits of rutile. It is home to the third-largest natural harbor in the world. Despite exploitation of this natural wealth, 60% of its people live in poverty.

History

The Precluding Years (1990-1992)

In January 1990, owing to ego and a personal desire of running a personal country, multi-billionaire Donald van Zandt began an expedition into the region. van Zandt hired locals and foreign mercenaries to help stake his claim. On 1 October 1991, van Zandt controlled a portion of land that was far from the front lines to begin infrastructure building.

There was great suspicion amongst locals that van Zandt was just a foreigner seeking control of the local region's diamond resources. Such suspicion was put to rest with Donald's personal investment into the controlled lands. Schools, hospitals, roads, marketplaces, and local farms were rebuilt with his money. From there van Zandt gained the trust and set up a small independent economy relying on foreign imports to sustain themselves while the territory recovered.

The brutal civil war that was going on in neighboring territories played a significant role in the solidification of van Zandt's power. Charles van der Toorn – then leader of the private mercenary force – reportedly helped form the Gongolan Army under the command himself. van der Toorn was a Veridian trained former Marine Force Recon who had participated in the Oynenyuan Continuation War. Charles's aim was for the Gongolan Army to attack nearby insurgent bases and expand van Zandt's holdings.

On 27 April 1992, Donald van Zandt established the government of Gongola with him as the nation's leader. Assisted by local representatives consisting of Sahr Soody, Valentin Strasner, Solomon Musan, Kombo Monde, Thomas Nyuma, Julius Maada Bo and Komba Tambo.

Initial Steps (1992-1995)

The first few years of a semi-organized state was harsh. van Zandt used his own personal funds to raise grassroots militia force. The Kamjor Rifles operated in familiar territory and was a significant impediment to marauding bandits, slavers, and foreign troops. For displaced and unprotected natives, joining the Kamjors was a means of taking up arms to defend family and home, along with relocation services. The Kamjors clashed with both foreign governments and enemy forces and was instrumental in countering government soldiers and bandits who were looting villages. The success of the Kamjors raised calls for its expansion, becoming the official Army of the state of Gongola.

Within one year of fighting, the Gongola offensive has stalled, but it still remained in control of large territories in region leaving many villages protected while also disrupting food and foreign diamond production. Soon the government was unable to pay both its civil servants and the SLA. As a result, van Zandt dipped into his coffers to continue his regime. The decision for van Zandt to personally pay for the shortcomings was largely popular because it promised that Donald Van Zandt had the native's well-being as a primary concern.

In March 1993, with much help from foreign volunteers and mercenaries, the Kamjor Rifles recaptured the Kodu and Kolo diamond districts and pushed the bandits further. The Kamjor Rifles soon faced supply problems as bandits took to the seas. Coastal raiding parties were restricting the ability of van Zandt's regime to trade with other entities.

With senior government officials neglectful of the logistical problems faced by the Kamjor Rifles, front line soldiers became resentful of their poor supplies and began helping themselves to arms and ammunition from the roving rebels. The wars dragged on as low-intensity conflicts until January 1995 when Gongola forces and dissident seized the mines in the Moytambo and Bonthem districts in the country's east, furthering the government’s economic power.

Interm Years (1995-2002)

With a somewhat stabilized territory, with the occasional skirmishes from slavers and bandits, van Zandt focused on economic and infrastructure building.

Government

Until the formation on 17 April 1992 (see above), Gongola was a portion of Nyasaland plunged in anarchy. The government is a military junta headed by Donald van Zandt. The politics of Gongola is currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional oligarchy, whereby the President is the head of government and state. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches, although judicial rulings are suspected of being based on political considerations rather than on existing law. It is worth noting that the President is a permanent position, only transferred upon death or retirement to a suitable candidate. The candidate is selected by a closed committee comprised of Executive, Judicial, and Legislative members.

President For Life Donald van Zandt, a foreign billionaire turned leader of an unrecognized state.

Military

The Kamjor Rifles is the armed forces of Gongola, responsible for the territorial security of Gongola's border and defending the national interests of Gongola, within the framework of its leadership. The Rifles were formed in 1990 on the basis of elements of Vulture Sword, foreign mercenaries hired by van Zandt. The Kamjor Rifles currently consist of around 2,500 personnel, excluding aforementioned mercenaries.

Recruits undergoing weapons training.

The military established control in 1992, forming Gongola as a state. On 19 April 1993, the Kamjor Rifles began a lengthy conquest of nearby lands. The goal was to further the resources Gongola would have via conquering mines and farms.

Equipment