NationStates Jolt Archive

The sun rose slowly, casting its golden rays over the ocean, reflecting brilliantly upon Somalia's beaches. Sand dunes sparkled as their deep bronze caught the rays and shined in the desert heat. People arose, and readied themselves for their morning salat, or prayer.


Imam Jafar Ali smiled, as he looked out over the city of Mogadishu. He felt such hope that, with the will and help of Allah, they could turn this troubled land into a better place.


He walked out onto the platform of the Mineret, and began to sing. He sang to call for all Muslim men and women to rise, and ready for prayer. We held the Glorious Qu'ran close, cradling the great book in his left arm while his right rested upon the beautiful wooden railing.


As he saw people walking from their homes out to the Mosque, he raised his arms to the air, and said loudly, "Bismillah ar-rahmaan ar-raheem, Al-hamdu lillahi rabb al-alameen, Ar-rahmaan ar-raheem', Ma[a]liki yawm ad-deen, Iyyaaka naabudu wa iyyaaka nastaeen, Ihdina s-siraata l-mustaqeem, Siraata l-latheena anamta alaihim ghair al-mughdoobi alaihim wa la daaleen. Allahu Akbar!"

A mighty roar from the crowds of people came, "Allahu Akbar!"


(OOC: In English: "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the day of judgment, You (alone) do we worship, and you (alone) we ask for help, Show us the straight path, The path of those You bestowed favor upon, not anger upon, and not of those who go astray. God is Great!")

He again smiled, and turned, placing upon his head the Black Turban of Sayyid, the Relation to the Prophet Muhammed himself. Walking back down the minaret, he looked out again over the devestated city.

"Dear Allah. It shall take much to make this nation great and whole again. But by Your will, it shall be done."


The Islamists, who had gained fanatical support from the populace, swiftly defeated the long fueding Warlords of Somalia, and established a new, Islamic Regieme of hope and rebuilding. It was the hope of Imam Musa Ali, who was Jafar's elder brother and the Head of State, that with the help of Allah, and of the Muslim faith, Somalia could undo almost a half a century of Civil Wars and Corrupt leaderships.


(OOC: I hope that any Muslim who reads this feels I portrayed morning Salat well. I am not Muslim, but have always found the religion fascinating. I wrote this with the help of one of my Muslim friends, though he is Shiite not Sunni as is Somalia.)

http://www.kokhavivpublications.com/help/maps/images/somalia_map.gif


http://www.yasudastudio.com/084FlagSomalia/FlagSomaliaWM2.jpg


Population:
8,863,338
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare


Population growth rate:
2.85%


Ethnic groups:
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)


Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.809 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
NA

GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
3.7 million (very few skilled laborers)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29%

Military branches:
a Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government; numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and the Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own security and police forces

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,787,727
females age 18-49: 1,714,792 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,022,360
females age 18-49: 1,038,697 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$22.34 million (2005 est.)


Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.32% (2005)

OOC:
Looks good so far, so thumbs up from me (Strathdonia).

Anyway just a quick question that really can be summed up in one word: Somaliland? or rahter does it exist, does it still have one of the world's biggest runways etc etc. Basically just so i cna get a more complete picture (feel free to slap me if you have already answered this in your claim.

OOC:
Looks good so far, so thumbs up from me (Strathdonia).

Anyway just a quick question that really can be summed up in one word: Somaliland? or rahter does it exist, does it still have one of the world's biggest runways etc etc. Basically just so i cna get a more complete picture (feel free to slap me if you have already answered this in your claim.

Hmm...I didn't think about it. I'll work on it. Thanks!


Edit: Somaliland is the region to the North. I basically chose it because it sounded nicer. Its sometimes referred to as Somaliland because of its prior name during British occupation, though that is extremely rare.

[OOC: I'd suggest getting in touch with Spyr (who controls Islamist Indonesia as Kalla) and Depkazia if you want to get in touch with your fellow Islamist nations.]

Austria will [for the moement] not get you to bogged down but is always looking for new markets and hopes Somalia will turn out to be a good free market stronghold and will always be on hand if you need [monetary] convincing to continue capitalism.

A run down of Austria is that we are the little ecentric nation controlled by a nationlist Prussian Political Party [PPP] which is actually a coalition of several groups under the influential and charasmatic Maxen von Bismarck.

Austria enjoys ties with a slew of nations, mostly Australaisia [Australia and a piece of Brazil and Argentina], New Switzerland [Switzerland and Liechenstein], and The Southern Confederacy [Some South American countries]. Cameroon, Morroco, Sao Tome and Principe, and Germany are all other peoples wich Austria enjoys somewhat beneficial relationswith and has only gone into imperialism once. With the acceptance of the Mauritius into the new Austria-Polynesia Commonwealth.

The only other territory is Trieste, a couple miles into Italy, it serves as the main port of Austria.

OOC: I'm Australasia, just ignore the fact that my username is something that you can't pronounce or spell.

IC:

Australasia, being always curious about the possibility of trade in other parts of the world, is very curious indeed about your mineral weath and more importantly, your probable oil reserves. If you're interested, an Australasian-based oil company is perfectly willing to come have a look for you and see what there is to see.


OOC-ly some more.
EDIT: A little about Australasia, then. I'm kind of like Austria-lite, for those of you who aren't too thrilled with the whole 'we do business with anyone!' mentality. I'm firmly aligned against the Holy League, against which I've declared something of an all or nothing war.

I'm actively interested in becoming a global power a-la C19th Britain, but don't tell anyone. I'm not so much imperialist as determined to put the world right by my view of things, meaning lots of secular or liberally religious democracies, with me on the top of the pile. Not so much because we're power hungry, but because Australasia actually sees itself as being the best nation for the job.

Economically, I'm pretty capitalist, but I won't trade with people that
A) invade people randomly, a-la France and Spain
B) cause trouble for me, or might do so, a-la Franberry's Southern Confederacy

Politically, Australasia is sort of cautiously liberal/centrist, much like I am in RL.

Yay, pronoun confusion!

OOC: I'm Australasia, just ignore the fact that my username is something that you can't pronounce or spell.

IC:

Australasia, being always curious about the possibility of trade in other parts of the world, is very curious indeed about your mineral weath and more importantly, your probable oil reserves. If you're interested, an Australasian-based oil company is perfectly willing to come have a look for you and see what there is to see.


OOC-ly some more.
EDIT: A little about Australasia, then. I'm kind of like Austria-lite, for those of you who aren't too thrilled with the whole 'we do business with anyone!' mentality. I'm firmly aligned against the Holy League, against which I've declared something of an all or nothing war.

I'm actively interested in becoming a global power a-la C19th Britain, but don't tell anyone. I'm not so much imperialist as determined to put the world right by my view of things, meaning lots of secular or liberally religious democracies, with me on the top of the pile. Not so much because we're power hungry, but because Australasia actually sees itself as being the best nation for the job.

Economically, I'm pretty capitalist, but I won't trade with people that
A) invade people randomly, a-la France and Spain
B) cause trouble for me, or might do so, a-la Franberry's Southern Confederacy

Politically, Australasia is sort of cautiously liberal/centrist, much like I am in RL.

Yay, pronoun confusion!


To: Australasia


We would be happy if you would search for our oil reserves. Our nation has been utterly poverty stricken, and such a flux of capitial would do much to stimulate growth and rebuilding.


To: Austria

We would be very pleased if you would assist us in growing our economy. We are capitalist in ideology, but theocratic in moral compass only. Our state is run by the Glorious Qu'ran's teachings, and we hold high moral standards for our people, but we see no fault with an individual succeeding, so long as he uses aquired wealth for good, and not sin.

To: Austria

We would be very pleased if you would assist us in growing our economy. We are capitalist in ideology, but theocratic in moral compass only. Our state is run by the Glorious Qu'ran's teachings, and we hold high moral standards for our people, but we see no fault with an individual succeeding, so long as he uses aquired wealth for good, and not sin.

Well that's a great [un-officially: backward] concept and Austria is glad to have such a morally just and sound country which to do buisness. So hopefully you won't turn radically Islamist or imperialist, both just plain not "uber" in any Austrian investors checkbook. With that I hope you will accept the introduction of Stille Incorporated and Fokker Aeroplanbau into your circle of buisness operators. We would also love the permission to list several of your companies in the FIA.

OOC: Stille Incroporated is a massive corporation with most of it's concerns with electronic gadgets and gizmos, it's main competitor is Sony, for an idea what markets it is in and own several power companies throughout Central Europe.

Fokker Aeroplanbau has fallen on somewhat bad straights because of European airplane making falling mostly to Airbus, massive cuts in Austrian money transfusions, and the end to several lucrative contracts. It is rebounding because of new specualtive investors [Many think GB and Germany will be looking for a new partner for the next Eurofighter type airplan and with HL in Spain and Italy.....], a new contract from the Austrian government for a creation of a transport armada, and with the cuttingoff of many personnel and unproductive buisness ventures.

The Federacy Index of Austria is a several continent, multiple country stock exchange which would include many benefits OOC and IC for your country. Mainly it woould provide income, by being onefo the better ways to introduce your country to European and American investors. It also gives a reason to see a way into making your own companies.

Of course you could just give me some hastily thought up names, I don't care either way.

With Beijing's influence rising but largely confined to Asia, an envoy is dispatched to the newly stable Islamic state of Somalilad.

With Beijing's influence rising but largely confined to Asia, an envoy is dispatched to the newly stable Islamic state of Somalilad.


You're envoy shall be accepted at Mogadishu International Airport.



(OOC: I'm almost certain thats where the airport is...if I'm wrong however, do tell me)

(OOC: I don't think there's any major pre-existing history for Somalia in AMW, so you can put the airfield wherever you like :) )

The Republic of Cameroon would like to extend its hand of friendship to the Islamic State of Somaliland in hopes of achieving a growing and lasting relationship with our fellow African nation. Cameroon would also like to congratule Somaliland on its achievement of peace which we pray will also be lasting.

Currently, President Paul Biya's administration has been making some headway in the international arena concerning trade and diplomatic matters, and we would invite any delegation Somaliland would like to send to Yaounde to have official talks.

Africa has been experiencing something of a re-surgence as of late and we would like nothing more than to rise with our fellow African nations.

[Official Ottoman Tag]

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/2828/iriflag5ow.jpg
Islamic Republic of Indonesia

As news of new government in Somalia reaches southeast Asia, the government of Mohammed Kalla offers congratulations and hopes for 'brotherhood and cooperation between the Faithful'. With the Taliban regime in Afghanistan crumbling under foreign onslaught, it comes as some relief to the Indonesian regime that a new Muslim state has been born.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/2828/iriflag5ow.jpg
Islamic Republic of Indonesia

As news of new government in Somalia reaches southeast Asia, the government of Mohammed Kalla offers congratulations and hopes for 'brotherhood and cooperation between the Faithful'. With the Taliban regime in Afghanistan crumbling under foreign onslaught, it comes as some relief to the Indonesian regime that a new Muslim state has been born.


Thank you brothers. We do hope that there can be close ties between us in the future.

Commonwealth of Mozambique

The Commonwealth of Mozambique, currently making war upon its hated neighbor the Mozambique Free State, is of two minds over Somalia's new central government. It is, of course, a welcome development that some order has, at long last, come to the nation, so long in the clutches of civil war, but the nature of the new government in Mogadishu is not entirely satisfactory. None the less, a communique is sent to the Somali capital praising the reestablishment of government and expressing Mozambican hopes that the new Islamist government will do a better job than Siad Barre.

From Mid Asia, Samarqand, capital of the Turkic People's Republic of Depkazia, takes a moment out of its heated... relations with Armand and China to pursue establishment of less taxing ties with Somaliland.

Hoping to establish himself as the most influential leader in the Muslim world, the President dispatches diplomats -who always travel through China, or across the Bactrian territory and then on through North Pakistan and the Indian National Union, neither of which routes is ideal while both are better than trying to go untroubled and unwatched through Russia or the Armandian Combine- to formalise ties with the new Somali leadership.

Now introduced as Chingiz Khagan, Malik ul-Mugāhidīn, Lord of the City of Samarqand and of the Cities of Osh, Talas, Toshkent, Kesh, Bishkek, Andijon, Farg'ona, Djizak, Khavakend, Margilan, Namangan, Karmana, Nukus, Nasaf, Rishdan, Dushanbe, Asbara, Termiz, Āmul, Bukhara, Karakol, Balasagun, Istravshan, Khujand, Jalalabad, and of the Port City of Krasnovodsk, and of the Twin Cities of Merv and Mary, and the Three Cities of Aşgabat, Nisa, and Konjikala, and Master of Tamerlane's Gate, the President welcomes Imam Jafar Ali and his countrymen back on to the world stage.

On the face of it, Depkazia is simply congratulating the Somalis on attaining stability after so much strife, and hoping to arrange an exchange of ambassadors.

Less public however is Chingiz's suggestion that the new administration consider sending Mugāhidīn to take up arms in Afghanistan, where the Armandian Combine and its puppet the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan are murdering civilians and attempting to restore the communist government. Finding their way to Afghanistan may be difficult, probably requiring secretive travel through India, but with paradise the reward for taking part in the struggle, who can be concerned with such earthly risks?

From Mid Asia, Samarqand, capital of the Turkic People's Republic of Depkazia, takes a moment out of its heated... relations with Armand and China to pursue establishment of less taxing ties with Somaliland.

Hoping to establish himself as the most influential leader in the Muslim world, the President dispatches diplomats -who always travel through China, or across the Bactrian territory and then on through North Pakistan and the Indian National Union, neither of which routes is ideal while both are better than trying to go untroubled and unwatched through Russia or the Armandian Combine- to formalise ties with the new Somali leadership.

Now introduced as Chingiz Khagan, Malik ul-Mugāhidīn, Lord of the City of Samarqand and of the Cities of Osh, Talas, Toshkent, Kesh, Bishkek, Andijon, Farg'ona, Djizak, Khavakend, Margilan, Namangan, Karmana, Nukus, Nasaf, Rishdan, Dushanbe, Asbara, Termiz, Āmul, Bukhara, Karakol, Balasagun, Istravshan, Khujand, Jalalabad, and of the Port City of Krasnovodsk, and of the Twin Cities of Merv and Mary, and the Three Cities of Aşgabat, Nisa, and Konjikala, and Master of Tamerlane's Gate, the President welcomes Imam Jafar Ali and his countrymen back on to the world stage.

On the face of it, Depkazia is simply congratulating the Somalis on attaining stability after so much strife, and hoping to arrange an exchange of ambassadors.

Less public however is Chingiz's suggestion that the new administration consider sending Mugāhidīn to take up arms in Afghanistan, where the Armandian Combine and its puppet the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan are murdering civilians and attempting to restore the communist government. Finding their way to Afghanistan may be difficult, probably requiring secretive travel through India, but with paradise the reward for taking part in the struggle, who can be concerned with such earthly risks?



We shall encourage the call of Jihad to be heard by the young men, however, we cannot allow too many to leave, for we need them to help in the rebuilding efforts.

(OOC: I'll send 1,200 Mujahideen. Is there a thread?)

(Link. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=485214) That thread has most of the fighting going on in it. It starts off being about Chingiz coming to power in Depkazia with China's help, so you can skip the first couple of pages if you want, but by page three or four it's increasingly about Afghanistan, and eventually about the fighting in the northwest. Just to inform you a little, Depkazia has created two Beyliks in northern Afghanistan, east of the worst fighting, and calls the area Bactria. It is inhabited mostly by ethnic Depkazis (Turkic peoples), while the Armandian Combine is coming in from the west (RL Iran). Depkazia wants Bactria to be part of Depkazia, and the rest of Afghanistan to be an independent Islamic state, while the Combine wants a communist state in Afghanistan. Roughly.)