NationStates Jolt Archive

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The West African Union
Office of John Kufuor, President of the Union

The West African Union is pleased to announce the combined efforts of national governments across 17 different West African nations have led to the first Five-Year Plan to stabilize and improve West Africa. The goals of the plan are varied, but all lead back to one simple reasoning: West Africa must meet the 21st Century head-on and attempt to better the lives of the people living within its borders.

With that stated, here are the general strategies for each area that requires drastic changes to be implemented. As they have in the past, should any nation be able to aid in these life-changing policies, it would do well to better the lives of countless millions of West Africans.

Telecommunications: With infrastructure lacking in almost every non-metropolis area, a rapid-paced growth of non-wire intensive modes of communication (cellular lines, WiFi broadcast) was ruled upon as the best method to quickly modernize an area which has been appalingly undergrown.

Power Production: Thoguh adequate, modernization cannot happen without advancements in this area. Modern power facilities must be built and the dilapidated and ramshackle plants in use in many areas must be upgraded. Hydroelectric and nuclear plants are being looked at as the two most time and cost effective solutions.

Agriculture: With desertification a growing problem and current farming methods woefully inadequate, better methods of agriculture must be devised. Quick growth/high yield crops are being looked at, as well as improved pesticides and fertilizers, irrigation methods, and desertification reversal.

Industry: An area which is woefully lacking, heavy industry has never been a part of West Africa. This needs to change immediately. Factories, plans, and effective R+D must all be created to bring West Africa into the 20th Century, let alone the 21st.

Transportation/Commerce: With few ports, fewer airports, and roads that are falling apart, West Africa is a transportation mess. Commerce cannot get in or out effectively and cannot easily be transported inland, or from inner regions to coastal areas. Train tracks and raods must be improved upon and built, ports must be made larger and more must be ceated, and airports need to be built. With transportation comes relief to the poor and the economy

Health: AIDS is slowly beginning its march across West Africa. Diseases run rampant in the interior and epidemics sweep through large cities. Hospitals must be built, supplies must be obtained, and medical staff must be trained. Draconian measures are liable to be taken to prevent the spread of AIDS if no other solutions can be found.

Economics: With Auro values low against world standards, little currency reserves, and a frightening array of various tax levels dfepending on the nation, economics must be improved upon. We are asking forgiveness of all or the majority of past debts as we look to re-build the economy from scratch in many areas.

Military: A modernized military is essential for defense from possible threats. With varied weaponry and doctrines, the training of a WAU Armed Forces branch is difficult and equipping it is horrendous. With few supplies, the job becomes impossible. Last-gen designs are needed for Air Force interceptors and helicopters, light and medium tanks, APCs, basic kit, and naval vessels, mostly in the medium to smaller category. Though we can afford to spend little, we are ready to embark on lend-lease deals, interest-fueled payments, and strategic alliances/agreements in exchange for aid.

Again, should any nation be able or willing to help, the West African Union begs for your aid. Our plans are large, but our willingness to work with others is just as large. We are ready to make deals should they aid us in bringing a standard of living to the West African area that is tolerable for everyone living within the region.

Thank you, God bless, and Akan.

The Empire would be more than willing to help the West African Union advance its industry, economy, military, and power production. It is the pleasure of our Emperor, Newt XX, to help all nations regardless of prior relations with Newtdom. We offer our support in any form the WAU is willing to accept.
Sincerely,
Lawrence, Lord Hollistein
Lord of the Foreign Ministry

The Russian Imperial Protectorate of Nigeria wishes to form trade ties with the West African Union, and has requested full recognition. (The previous Nigerian government was overthrown)

OOC: Basically, a TG.

The PRC wishes to establish diplomatic lines of communications between our two nations..

(Glorified tag)

The Empire of Roycelandia is actually completely surprised by the formation of the West African Union, but nonetheless Imperial Railways, Telecom Roycelandia, Imperial Airways, Air Roycelandia, and ImPetroCo have all offered to assist in building up the infrastructure of West Africa.

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I has, however, expressed concerns about West Africa attempting to buy high-tech military hardware, especially in the face of the region's other obstacles.

However, Imperial Armaments have offered to provide vast stocks of SMLE rifles, Lewis Machine Guns, Webley service revolvers, and Meerkat Light Tanks at below cost prices, to ensure that West Africa is not completely defenceless...

(Mostly a tag. I hope this doesn't turn into a situation where by every rich nation piles in and West Africa develops over night instead of getting screwed again. People who're already doing well don't want more competators, and the scale of the region, population, poverty, and other problems is beyond the means of a self important power to easily fix. Sorry, being pretty much the only really poor nation playing in AMW that's just an area that concerns me, especially as it looks like people are hoping to modernise Central America over night and somehow get rich off it. If the WAU has even been confirmed as part of AMW yet (which I wasn't aware of), then welcome to the world!)

New Lusaka City was unsurprisingly keen to involve itself with what Mr.Derek was calling, "the third great African union" (following the United African Republic of Lusaka and the African Commonwealth). Unfortunately, investment wasn't really one of the things that Lusaka could do for the WAU, being as the Republic was struggling to recover from the disaster of Tendyala's land reforms that spoiled the last harvest.

However, President Igomo, ever the African crusader, was quite sure that he could do something. He had in the past- Lusakan soldiers had visited West Africa on stabilisation operations in the past, and the Republic's facilities had trained Burkinabe and other soldiers in the heady early days after the defeat of the Roycelandian Empire.

Diplomats recalled or abandoned by the Tendyala Junta were sent back to West Africa in what ammounted to a pretty great effort on the part of the Lusakan economy. There was relief at least in the hope that the UARL might be able to send just one ambassador and a handful of consuls to one grand union rather than to a mountain of little governments through whom little could be achieved.

The new generation of envoys would offer what Lusaka had: educators, doctors, and military officers, all trained by the state and by its friends in India and elsewhere, and all out of work since the last great contraction of the Lusakan economy. Granted, the doctors wouldn't bring much in the way of drugs or equipment; and the teachers would only have texbooks in English, Swahili, Arabic, and a mountain of Tanzanian languages, but they would bring skills and knowledge, as well as a willingness to teach.

The army, meanwhile, was willing -keen, according to Igomo- to send officers to liaise with the West Africans, to accept recruits into Lusaka's huge North Tanzanian training fields (built to service an army many times larger than the shell of a force that Lusaka now maintained), and to hand over significant stocks of weaponry that the reduced Lusakan army no longer used.

Unfortunately, the war in Zimbabwe meant that many munitions would be unavailable. Lusakan-built Uzi-copy sub-machineguns, RPGs, Strela MANPADS, UAZ and Zil-131 trucks, T-56(L) and T-62 medium tanks, and 100mm and 130mm artillery pieces were sitting in gigantic stockpiles, however, going largely unmaintained. To Igomo it made sense to give them to a potential friend who shared his grand vision of African unity and independence.

Meanwhile, diplomats in Hindustan tried to convey City's hope that perhaps some of the military aid offered to Lusaka in the past could be directed towards West Africa, hopefully before imperialist forces made the WAU reliant on them and their causes.

With the Strathdonian Government's on going paranoid fence sitting on the Zimbawe affair tying up most of the nations available resources there isn't much that Strathdonia can offer bar its usual "welcome to the neighbourhood" type stuff and repition of what ever the Hindustani/Elian line might be.

Of course when governments are unable to act it often falls mean that certain less than well regulated business concerns to make a profit, thus the West Africans will likely receive offers from comapnies such as Robinson arms trying to off load thier .30Shorty SMGs, Henderson Fine Arms offering just about any gun in any calibre, Blantyre Avaition Disposal and Serving offering low cost leasing options and finace deals on second had chinese fighters and a group known only as "The Concern", fronted by a young East European called Ivan offering a wide rnage of undefined "executive solutions" for your armed forces.

Parliament is quite pleased with the West African Union's stabilization and development plan, and, as usual offers to send a contingent of advisors as well as supplies of whatever medications the West African Union needs, taken from Hindustan's rather large stocks of medicines put aside for just that purpose.

As for military aid, Parliament is reluctant to offer very much. Not that there is very much to offer, now that the Disposal Acts, which enjoin the Ministry of Defense to destroy or render non-operational any military hardware currently in temporary service, have taken effect. While there are some 20 Su-30MKIs, all quite flyable, which are not slated for being cut in half, many MPs have raised concerns as to what the West African Union is going to do with them. Apprehensiveness centers around the treatment of the Bedouin and Toureg peoples in Mali and Mauritania, and, says one MP, "My constituancy has overwhelmingly stated its resolve not to transfer any military hardware to the West African Union that might be used for questionable purposes." This feeling is quite widespread.

If the aircraft are placed under the central authority of the West African Union, and not of any individual member state, the mood could very well shift in favor of the transfer. And its better, think many Hindustanis, to let the West Africans have them before arms smugglers snatch them up and sell them to Uttar Pradesh or North Pakistan.

Heil Tagg

African Commonwealth

The African Commonwealth, styling itself a great Pan-African Republic these days, has almost immediately put through with open diplomatic channels and wishes to send a delegation into the WAU.

Although jokers claiming that the Lusakan foreign policy has rubbed off on the Commonwealth after the great Gabonese Counter-Imperialist war(as it is still known in the nation) still risk being jailed for uttering such sentiments, they are not far off. Aiding fellow Africans are high on the list for LFU party members and the honourable president Mshone Ndelebe these days, in part to unite black African nations, and in part to keep foreigners from exerting influence over more of the continent.

While the majority of the Commonwealth's engineers are still working on modernizing the remoter areas of the nation, at least a hundred and fifty specialists can definitely be spared to the Union as a gesture of good will. These men and women can oversee the construction of high-speed broadband connections(probably only an option for government buildings and public internet in larger cities right now), bridges, roads, train stations, rails, irrigation ditches and larger watering systems, hydro-electric generators and tractor plants. They may also help in restructuring of ports and what factories exist, for quicker immediate aid in strengthening West Africas commercial sector. In the long run, radioactive material and technology for civil nuclear power may be shared; but such things are not given up lightly; the Commonwealth will have to debate these matters with it's population before that step is taken.

AC's health care system is the envy of Africa! Well, the parts that aren't run by rich foreigners anyway. AIDS is being curtailed, and other highly fatal conditions such as Ebola, typhus and child malnutrition is being treated with still more success by a large grid of clinics offering free care. What doctors can be spared are now traveling to WAU to offer education to health care workers in the region.

In the early days of the Commonwealth, socialist guerilla soldiers trained in Burkina Faso and Ghana had attacked the nation in coalition with the then-hostile nation of Middle Congo. This alone makes the Commonwealth reluctant to share military resources with the WAU, but if the specified nations have since been "brought into the fold" and no longer harbour militias intent on attacking the Commonwealth, a great deal of modernized air force and army assets can be lend-leased, sold or even set up for production inside the Union with the transfer of skilled army engineers and factory parts. Likewise, but very hush-hush, is the option to lend advisors to the union, capable of grooming domestic troops for potentially starting a Special Force; For the willing commander, many options exist such as training in demolitions, interrogation, riot control, trap-setting and a variety of black-ops skills like infiltration, kidnapping and the like.

While the Commonwealth regime understands this is not enough, there is the potential for would-be engineers, military commanders and medical doctors from the Union to come and get their training in the Commonwealth's many universities? The government knows such things cannot come for free, but perhaps concessions could be made, in the form of opening the Union's mineral and gas resources to Lusaka and the Commonwealth? There are no limits to what can be accomplished if WAU chooses to align itself with the Lusaka/Commonwealth/ Zimbabwe African nationalists instead of Roycelandia, United Elias and other foreigners; and Commonwealth diplomats spare no effort in order to make that point clear. "Whatever they're offering, we'll double it", is essentially the message. "Nothing less will do for our African Brothers."

Commonwealth of Mozambique

Upon hearing of the formation of the West African Union, Mozambiquian Prime Minister Leon Alberto has some encouraging words for the new organization. While the Commonwealth is by no means large or powerful, and is still very much occupied with its own considerable set of problems, Alberto still plans to send an ambassador to the Union.

The new prime minister echoes, to a certain extent, Lusakan and African Commonwealth hopes for a more unified and self-sufficient Africa during his most recent press conference, appearing jointly with the wheelchair-bound Raoul Domingos. Through an interpreter, Domingos signs his own sentiments, suggesting that he is thoroughly displeased with many of the regimes installed in the member West African nations. But not being prime minister anymore, his opinion doesn't carry the weight that it did.

President Kufuor dropped another sheaf of papers onto the desk that was littered with countless piles of paper. Reports dealing with power failures, reports dealing with small-scale insurrections by angered tribes, reports dealing with mounting health crises, and even more reports dealing with the host of things going wrong in the West African Union. Already, the struggling apparatus of government was becoming overwhelmed and now the WAU had another source of concern over something that Kufuor had never imagined would be a source of concern- aid!

Foreign aid, that siren call to which the struggling nations of West Africa depended on to help many of its poorest survive. Now, with aid needed to hold together a fledgling government, the offers were pouring in far too fast to be easily handled! ‘Accept aid from them, lose it from another. Ally with them, become enemy of that bloc.’ Kufuor’s thoughts were distracting him; his last hour spent blindly shuffling through reports before dropping them back into piles on his desk. He needed to consult with someone or nothing would get done.

That’s why the meeting had been called, with Kufuor’s closest advisor and confidant, his Vice President Thele Mbuku. The two men had been inseparable during numerous campaigns in Ghana and it fell to them to naturally be just as much a pair in the campaigning for the government of the coalition of nations. Kufuor certainly had more assigned power, but more often than not the two friends worked together on most important decisions.

It was with this relationship that the two men began wracking their brains behind the closed doors of Kufuor’s office, late into the night, trying to decide which offers of aid to accept and which to decline.

“John, you know as well as I that every one of these nations is looking for something in return,” Mbuku said as he leaned back in one of the chairs scattered about the room, his assorted dossiers in hand. “We take help from the Strahdonian arms companies and we’re in their pockets if anything ever happens in Zimbabwe. WE so much as even imagine any aid flowing from Roycelandia and we’ve got their corporations exploiting our hillsides like cheap whores.”

Kufuor laughed. “And we most certainly don’t want to be remembered as the ones to let Roycelandia into West Africa. I think we can both agree that there’s one devil’s accord we can never afford to sign.”

Mbuku nodded in reply. “Politically as well as spiritually. Since everyone wants a piece of the West African pie, we’re not deciding who to go with, we’re deciding who we’d most enjoy selling our land and our collective souls to. And, unfortunately, we’re going to have to choose- stay indebted to foreign powers or become indebted to an African power. We’ll get more from the Europeans, but we’ll lose just as much. I think you know my line on this John.”

“Thele, friend, I knew the moment we started talking. And in this one I’m going to support you. I’d much rather sell out to fellow Africans than to yet another ex-colonial nation with free markets and cheap labor on its mind. Now that you’re here, mind helping me go over the projected ag expenditures? It’ll be a real job trying to get those assholes over in MinAg on our side for some of the cuts we’ll need.”

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The West African Union
Office of John Kufuor, President of the Union

To every nation who replied in some way- I and the people whom I am elected to represent thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. It is only through fellowship and aid from fellow nations across the world that those in Africa can right themselves and end the plights that have befallen our people for countless years.

With that said, in every nation that diplomats from nations represented by the WAU are, a combination of embassies and recalls of older embassy staff will likely take place. It is hoped that with a single WAU diplomat in foreign nations, staffed by either a representative of the entire WAU or some combination of that and representatives from nations within the WAU, the business of contact will be greatly improved Within that same sphere is also the matter of diplomacies within the WAU- as of current, the majority are expected to be built in or around Accra, Ghana, a nation that has both somewhat modernized infrastructure and a predilection towards stability.

In continuation of that same legacy across West Africa, I am both overjoyed and gratified at the response given to the request for aid. I will attempt to reply to each nation individually and, though your nation might be turned down in its offer, I am overjoyed at the reply that you gave.

Newtdom, with aid in other areas pouring in and nations both nearer and more in tune with the WAU’s problems, we must say the area you can aid the most is in economics. By forgiving outstanding debts of nations in West Africa or ceasing interest build-up, your nation can make the job of fiscal strength a great deal more probable for us. By urging others in the international community to do the same, you can also lend voice to this important area of aid.

Roycelandia, though your offers are gratefully acknowledged, it was viewed that the best aid in the areas you have offered aid might be better fulfilled by other nation, many of whom are located nearer to the WAU than your nation geographically. Along with that factor is the very real possibility that the African Parliament would simply deny your companies access to areas within the WAU. To stave off even the appearance of “selling out” to a foreign nation as some in the out party have termed it and inviting a disastrous defeat in Parliament, we are unfortunately unable to accept the presence of your companies and nationalized corporations in West Africa in the ways you foresaw them.

Lusaka[/]b, every one of your efforts is greatly appreciated by the peoples of the West African Union. Only through regional cooperation and aid can we truly make Africa a continent viewed in the same light as Europe, for example. Your aid in every area is most appreciated and I suggest we immediately set up some kind of meeting to begin a greater degree of cooperation between our two great African nations. [OOC- MIRC? AIM? MSN?]

[b]Strathdonia, the aircraft you mention have piqued the interest of some higher-ranking officers in the armed forces. I take it likely that they would love to begin talks over purchase agreements of some kind.

Hindustan, your advisors and health aid are greatly appreciated. With the fight against a multitude of diseases only in need of support, the dangerous trends those diseases are posting and the threat they show to Africans can be contained with the aid nations such as yourself give. WE thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

African Commonwealth, the same applies to you as it did to the Lusakans. Every piece of aid you mention is welcomed with pen arms by our nation! Through ceaseless efforts of fellow Africans like yourselves, we can bring the problems in modern Africa to a halt and I am overjoyed to see the two most powerful nations in Africa realize this. I would urge we set up a meeting of some kind to coordinate and decide specifics of all efforts we are to embark on [OOC- MIRC? AIM? MSN?] and thank you, again, from the deepest wells of our hearts.

Mozambique, your support for a more unified Africa is echoed here in the WAU. Though there are certainly some regimes with a history that might be better let to rot, this fact is true of every nation in the world and, rest assured, the WAU is working to make sure no abuses by governments will ever occur under our watch. Already, forces loyal to the WAU have removed two politicians most fastidiously against stabilization of West Africa and we will not hesitate to do the same to any other who undermines the WAU’s goals. I hope that our policies and actions assuage Mr. Domingos and any member of the Commonwealth.

To all, I would suggest that we begin dialogue through the appropriate agencies to decided upon specifics, but believe me when I say that both I and my staff were quite literally in tears at the aid and salvation offered to West Africans. May you experience peace and goodwill for as long as you exist and may God bless every one of your nations (Unless of course you are an atheist nation….)

[OOC- Should any contact be wished, just TG me to get on any messaging service at the time you'll be on, or contact me if I'm already on. I'm on MIRC at times, samtheuberman on AIM, samtheuberman@hotmail.com on MSN.]

(Sorry about the OOC rambling, before, I'm just very protective of the concept of the under-dog. Oh, and unless I'm mistaken, Newtdom, you're not actually a member of AMW, are you? *Looks around for cues from the assembly*)

The West Africans continue to receive some attention from the Lusakans, who were prepared to put West Africans through basic military training along side their own recruits being mobilised for the conflict in Zimbabwe. A few doctors and educators began to head for the Union, too, while Lusaka remained unable to give major financial or material aid.

That being said, a few propaganda videos do show Lusakan-designed tanks rolling off production lines in the African Commonwealth, the United African Republic's famous LS-8 AFRISAM air defence system in field testing, and retro-90s footage of major development that raised New Lusaka City from a dirt track to a capital city with a million residents: all meant to indicate to the West Africans that independent Sub-Saharan Africa does have the goods, even if you, ah, can't actually have them just yet...

Of course, a spin off of sending young men to train in Lusaka's Soviet-built facilities and of taking in public servants produced by the UARL's inflated state sector would be in the ideas they'd carry to West Africa. President Derek Igomo himself was no serious economist or political theorist, just a humanitarian African nationalist, but the nation built under his watch had almost done away with currency in most daily activity, and developed under the watch of first Moscow and later Portmeirion. Most educated Lusakans consider themselves socialists of one sort or another.

Later, it was the government's intention, UWA would be invited to join the UARL and AC at the table of discussion on Pan-Africanism (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=457845), though this remained as yet a matter of great secrecy.

(Just thought I should add that we've got you in mind, though I can't tell you IC just yet ;) )

The Commonwealth heartily welcomes the opportunity for a permanent relation of cooperation and mutual aid with the Union. It was quickly decided, if Kufuor is agreeable, to set up a hotline between Kinshasa's governatorial palace and the place John Kufuors government resides, a "red phone" as it were.

In the meantime, the Commonwealths capital is bustling with activity as "tier one" personnel rush to activate the scores of doctors, engineers and other "advisory personnel"(with this was largely meant competent military officers who are growing impatient with thier garrison roles); for immediate transfer to the neediest areas of the Union.




OOC>> I'll add you to MSN when I come home!

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I received the news of the West African Union's polite rebuke with a surprising amount of courtesy and good grace. It was only after the messenger had withdrawn that His Majesty uttered a series of short, sharp words that would have made a construction worker cringe.

Finally, he stopped swearing and thought.

"Call our friends in Russia" he said. "Perhaps it's time for Operation Tai-Pan."

Wiggles gasped. "Are you sure?"

"I think now is as good a time as any."

"Well, alright then. You're the Emperor."

"Indeed I am, Wiggles. Indeed I am..."

Meanwhile, Sunderland Flying Boats have arrived in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, containing a number of crates for the Nigerian Armed Forces- rumours abound that Roycelandia has won a very lucratve contract to supply the Nigerians with Roycelandian Equipment, which will only have positive benefits for Roycelandian Equatorial Africa (which includes about 10% of Nigeria), and Roycelandia in general...

Upon recieving the WAU's reply, No.44 squadron's Belfasts are prepared to fly out the first contingents of advisors and equipment. One of the stalwart transports is equipped with special refrigeration and climate control gear for the transport of temperature-sensitive medecines, although it will not be used until a storage facility is chosen.

Mumbai is also quick to release a statement promoting 'peace and stability' in West Africa, noting that, "arming one nation relative to another is a good way to trigger a dangerous arms race that can no doubt lead to disastrous conflict." This is no doubt in response to Roycelandia's arming of Nigeria and Parliament's strong suspiscion that, as is the case more often than not, Royce is up to something underhanded.

Hindustan's offer to supply the WAU with surplus Su-30MKIs still stands, and as HADF officers will say, the longer you wait the more parts go missing.

The Imperial Government has denied sparking an Arms Race in West Africa, pointing out that the Nigerian Government is simply standardising their equipment in an effort to do away with the hodge-podge of French, German, Russian, and Anglo-Roycelandian arms and equipment...

Strathdonia, the aircraft you mention have piqued the interest of some higher-ranking officers in the armed forces. I take it likely that they would love to begin talks over purchase agreements of some kind.

No Sooner than the WAU representatives replied than Blantyre Aviation Disposal and Servicing (BADS) has a crack team of salesmen ready to go. After some deliberation it is decided that a presentation and negotiation team be dispatched to Accra, initially it was hoped that they could piggy back any Strathdonian Diplomatic mission but with the government running scared over scandals involving the use of civil resources to directly aide various corporations this proved impossible.
The first step of the campaign is the email various high level officials with presentation packs with brief details of the aircraft offered, basic sales prices and details of various support packages. The main option being the total care package which includes the aircraft, a full support and servicing plan for 5 years which includes all spares and replacement parts, this package comes at a monthly price of $23,000 per $1million of aircraft to be paid over the 5 year contract after which the aircraft will then belong to the WAU.
The initial offer is of up to 30 J-10 multirole fighters with alternatives such as the F-5E, IDF and J-8 all being options.

Before at all long, the West African Union finds itself the recipient of a long and detailed communique from Mumbai concerning the situation of the Polisario rebel movement in Western Sahara. The communique suggests, among other things, that, in the interest of African unity and solidarity, the Mauritanian border might be opened to allow at the very least humanitarian supplies into the Polisario enclave.

Using the prospect of 20 free fighter jets as a bargaining chip, Parliament tries very hard to get the West Africans, Mauritanians in particular, to put aside their old antimosity towards the Polisarios. Mabye they were raiding your military before, but that was in the eighties, says Parliament. And don't pretend that you didn't do things in the eighties that you would grow to regret, eh? In the interests of peace and reconciliation, why not show some support to the suffering Saharawis?

Mumbai very much hopes that Lusaka and The African Commonwealth, both supporters of the Polisario movement although (and Mumbai is not reluctant to admit it) not so much as Hindustan, have also started talking to the West Africans about the Saharawi situation.