No Taxes
03-10-2006, 00:35
Timeline
Early 2007: Violence in the Darfur Region of Sudan reaches a crescendo as African Union troops leave the area. No UN troops are sent in to restore order.
Late 2007: Several West and Central African nations, led by Nigeria, send in troops to the Darfur Region with support from private aid agencies around the world. The UN largely ignores the area as it is occupied elsewhere.
2008: Violence flares in Nigeria as Muslims in the north come into conflict with the government. These terrorists are funded partly by foreign Muslim countries angry over Nigeria’s involvement in Sudan.
2010: The National Unity Government in Cote D’Ivoire falls apart as opposition groups take over the capital. Loyalists fight back and a bloody civil war erupts.
2011: The Ivorian Civil War as it called spreads to Ghana, after opposition guerillas there assassinate the President.
2012: Muslim insurgents in Benin believed to be closely linked with those in Nigeria, strike in the capital, unleashing suicide bombs killing hundreds. After the President is assassinated, Togolese Military Forces seize the opportunity and quickly annex Benin.
2013: The military in Togo stages a coup and General Tinashe takes control of the country, instituting a harsh authoritarian regime. The insurgents in the former country of Benin are put down ruthlessly. Many international agencies like the Red Cross ask the UN and the US to intervene but they do not send in any forces.
2014: Under the guise of restoring order, Togolese Military Forces move into Ghana trying to conquer the country while it is in the middle of a civil war. Most of the Ghanaian factions unite for a time to halt the Togolese advance, but this unity quickly falls apart and the situation in Ghana becomes even worse than before.
2015: The Government of Sierra Leone is rocked by scandals and charges of corruption. Rebel groups gain support among the populace and the Military is barely able to keep the country from sliding into civil war.
2016-2018: The civil wars in Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana rage on with hundreds of thousands and civilian and military casualties.
2019: The Guinean Military stages a coup and takes control over the government. Yet separatists remain strong in the country.
2020: After the assassination of the leader of Sierra Leone, another African civil war erupts engulfing Sierra Leone and the nearby Guinea.
2021: The Ivorian People’s Party (IPP) finally ends the civil war in the country by taking firm control of the capital and all provinces. Covert support is given by the IPP to anti-Togolese forces in Ghana.
2022: The Guinean General in control of the country is assassinated, presumably by Senegalese supported rebels. Senegal promptly invades Guinea, with the goal of a quick victory. Yet this eludes them as Guinea fights back with support from the IPP.
2023: A dirty bomb is exploded in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, by Islamic rebels, financed by Sudan. Chad responds by declaring war on Sudan and the second Chadian-Sudanese war began. Nigeria sends arms and supplies to the Chadian government.
2024: Cote D’Ivoire declares war on Togo and invades Ghana to drive back the Togolese forces there. The Ghanaian capital, Accra, is captured by the IPP, yet a Togolese counter attack results in the IPP being driven back to the western half of Ghana. Ghana has now seen war for 13 years.
2025: Senegal strong-arms Gambia into joining it in the war against Guinea. Guinea-Bissau responds by joining sides with Guinea and a major offensive pushes Senegalese forces back into Senegal.
2026: In Liberia, after Government scandals, the Military stages a coup and takes power. General Olabode heads the new government, while promising to institute democratic reforms.
2027-2029: The Senegalese-Guinean War, The Ghanaian War and the Second Chadian-Sudanese war continue to rage on. Sierra Leone disintegrates even further into chaos.
2030: Nigeria officially joins the side of Chad in their war with Sudan. Nigerian reinforcements help fuel a major Chadian offensive.
2031: Mauritanian Generals stage a coup, taking control of the government, no one pays much attention.
2032: A Pro-IPP Party gains control in Burkina Faso elections, and soon declares war on Togo.
2033: Another Coup takes place in Liberia and General Ndukwe Kaluti takes control of the government.
2034: With Sierra Leone in chaos and after building up military forces Kaluti invades the country and quickly conquers it. The Songhai Empire is founded and Kaluti takes the title: His Imperial Majesty, Ruler of Liberia and Monarch of Sierra Leone, Ndukwe Kaluti.
2034: Kaluti signs peace accords with another African tyrant, Udale Kiwanade of Angola. The two leaders agree to unify Africa under their commands.
Early 2035: The Songhai Empire allies with Senegal and declares war on Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Caught between two enemies, Guinea quickly is knocked out and divided up by Songhai and Senegal.
Late 2035: After Senegalese forces have returned home, the Songhai Empire invades Senegal and Gambia.
2036: After a hard fought war, Senegal and Gambia surrender and join the Songhai Empire which now includes the former countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Senegal.
2036: Togolese forces continue to hold out against the IPP and Burkina Faso.
2037: Continuing the “divide and conquer” strategy, the Songhai Empire allies with Togo and declares war against Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Cote D’Ivoire falls quickly against the two forces, while Burkina Faso holds out somewhat longer, though eventually surrenders. Togo gains Ghana, while the Songhai Empire gains Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
2038: The Songhai Empire celebrates the birth of Kaluti’s son, Nake.
2039: Imperial expansion continues as the Empire invades Mali in a surprise attack. Large gains are made initially and Mauritania joins the war on the side of Mali.
2040: The war between the Empire and Mali and Mauritania continues, while the Chadian-Sudanese war ends with the Treaty of Abuja. The terms were such that Sudan had to help rebuild the Chadian capital, along with paying reparations to Chad. Chad also gained some territory in western Sudan, while the Nubian Republic in southwest Sudan was created. Darfur would be in the Republic so it would hopefully stop the violence and the young Republic would be protected by Chad and Nigeria.
2041: While the war in Mali continues, Togo suddenly betrays the Empire and invades while the majority of the Empire’s soldiers are engaged elsewhere. Togolese forces make huge gains even coming within 50 miles of the Capital of the Empire, Monrovia. Yet they are stopped with great effort.
2042: The Empire, fighting for its life, gambles everything on an amphibious assault in Benin. It works perfectly, cutting the supply lines of the Togolese forces and 3 months later Togo is added to the Empire.
2042: Cameroon quietly annexes Equatorial Guinea while the rest of the world is occupied elsewhere.
2043: Now able to concentrate on Mali and Mauritania, the Empire conquers the two countries quickly. The Songhai Empire now consists of the former countries of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.
2044-2048: These 5 years are a time of great prosperity for the Empire as it is at peace and advancing technologically. The Songhai Space Agency (SSA) is founded and launches several satellites.
2049: The Confederation of Free African Nations (CFAN) is founded and includes Nigeria, Chad, the Nubian Republic, and Niger.
2049: In his quest for ever more territory Kaluti declares war on the CFAN. Fighting rages with only small advances on either side.
2050: While feinting a major Amphibious Invasion of Nigeria, Imperial Forces move into Niger. The CFAN, remembering the Amphibious Invasion that took out Togo, bites on the bait and Imperial Forces make huge gains.
2051: Imperial Forces continue to make modest gains as their better equipment and higher numbers take a toll on the CFAN.
2052: Sudan seeing that Nigeria and Chad are fighting for their lives, quietly and quickly annexes the Nubian Republic, spurring a new round of violence there.
2052: Cameroon, seizing the opportunity, allies with the Songhai Empire and invades Nigeria in the rear.
2053: Nigeria finally capitulates under attack from 3 sides. Chad is close to surrendering also.
2054: Chad surrenders and throughout the Empire there are celebrations that the Great West African War is over.
2055: Disagreements between Cameroon and the Songhai Empire over how to split up the former CFAN leads to yet another war.
2056: Facing the full might of the Empire Cameroon does not last too long and surrenders to the Empire.
2057: The Songhai Empire consolidates its many gains.
2058: Kaluti, meanwhile, has extended the Songhai Empire to include Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, the Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Chad, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Songhai is huge, and a powerful African nation.
2059-2065: The Empire grows economically and the people enjoy the peace that actually seems to last.
2066: Under the guise of stopping the violence in the Darfur Region of Sudan, the Empire invades Sudan.
2067: After a year of vicious and bloody fighting, Sudan surrenders the newest province of the Songhai Empire. Research on energy weapons begins.
2068: Imperial Forces quickly conquer the Western Sahara, but are stopped at Morocco by the death of Ndukwe Kaluti the first and greatest Emperor. He died at the age of 78 and his son Nake Kaluti becomes the new Emperor.
2069: The conflict between Israel and the MEC erupts and the Songhai Empire remains neutral. The Trans-African Railroad is finished with the main line running from Dakar to Monrovia to Abuja to Abeche to Port Sudan.
2070-2076: The years of reform during which Nake institutes many democratic reforms. The Empire is split into 6 provinces, the Northwestern Province consisting of Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and the Western Sahara, the Southwestern Province of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire, the Central Province of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger, the South Eastern Province of Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and the Western Province of Chad and Sudan. Each province has significant autonomy to decide its internal affairs and elect its own legislature and Governor. An Imperial Senate is created consisting of 50 Representatives from each province, along with a People’s Assembly which consists of Representatives from each province based on the population of the province. The higher the population, the more Representatives the province gets. The Emperor serves as the Head of State and acts as the deciding vote if there is a tie in one of the Imperial Legislatures. Nake also upgraded the public education system and improved the infrastructure of the Empire.
2077: The Songhai expansion finally is stopped at Morocco. Nake Kaluti establishes that the empire is complete. Songhai has added the Western Sahara Province to their empire and Sudan.
2078-2080: The Songhai Empire remains neutral during all the major wars raging throughout the world.
2078: The Songhai Empire is one of the first nations to recognize the Ottoman Confederation.
2080: The Songhai people mourn the deaths of so many civilians during the Ragnarok Year.
2081: Energy weapons are finally developed in the Empire, only for basic use.
2082: Nake applauds the end of the war in Asia. The Capital of the Empire is moved to Abuja for a more central location.
2083: The Songhai Empire is one of the first nations to recognize NADA.
2084: The Empire recognizes the ULN.
2085: Twin sons are born to Nake and the Empire celebrates.
2086: The Empire recognizes the new nation, the Iberian Dominion.
2087: The Songhai Empire continues to advance technologically, while the SSA builds more satellites and begins designing shuttles to ferry materials and crew back and forth to space.
2088-2096: The SSA continues to expand and two more children of Nake are born, one a girl and the other a boy. The first Songhaian in space occurs during a short flight of a shuttle carrying 5 people.
2097: The Songhai people watch in awe as the first men land on Mars. The event spurs a great desire in the Songhai people to travel to space themselves.
2100: Birth of the 22nd Century, modern day. Songhai is about to have another round of elections. Nake is 62 years old and still going strong.
Demographics
Population: 982,713,191
Languages: English (Official), French, Arabic, Indigenous Languages
Religions: 34% Muslim, 30% Christian, None or Non-Affiliated 20%, Indigenous Beliefs 16%
Government
Head of State: His Imperial Majesty Nake Kaluti
Head of Government: Imperial Senate and People’s Assembly
Capital: Abuja
Type of Government: Decentralized Constitutional Monarchy
Administrative Divisions: Northwestern Province consisting of Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and the Western Sahara; the Southwestern Province of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire; the Central Province of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger; the South Eastern Province of Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea; and the Western Province of Chad and Sudan
Major Political Parties:
Songhai Imperial Party – A moderate/conservative party, favoring a free-market system with a moderate amount of social welfare. Most popular among pro-Emperor supporters and centrists. Controls most of the judicial system and has the support of the Emperor.
Islamic People’s Party (IPP) – A conservative party that believes the Songhai Empire should follow the Koran strictly. Popular among Muslims (obviously) and usually the opposition party in the People’s Assembly. One of its main campaign points is the need for an Islamic Emperor.
Libertarian Party – Liberal on social matters yet favors a free-market system with very limited social welfare. It is mainly supported by the middle class and by businessmen.
Worker’s Party of Songhai – A socialist party, socially liberal yet wants to nationalize all major industries and provide a big social welfare program. It is very popular among the lower class yet has been marginalized somewhat lately by the economic boom in Songhai.
Imperial Senate Composition (250 seats total):
Majority Party: Coalition of the Imperial Party and the Libertarian Party – 132 seats (53%)
Opposition Party: IPP – 60 seats (24%)
Other Parties: Worker’s Party – 53 seats (21%), Others Parties - 5 seats (2%)
People’s Assembly Composition (491 seats total):
Majority Party: Coalition of the Imperial Party and the Libertarian Party – 236 seats (48%)
Opposition Party: Worker’s Party – 133 seats (27%)
Other Parties: IPP – 98 seats (20%), Other Parties – 24 seats (5%)
Provincial Governments:
Northwestern Province – Imperial Party and IPP
Southwestern Province – Imperial Party
Central Province – Worker’s Party
Southeastern Province – Libertarian Party
Western Province - IPP
Armed Forces:
Imperial Army: 5,129,711
Imperial Navy: 2,351,780
Imperial Air Force: 2,338,509
Northwestern Defense Force (Reserve): 666,159
Southwestern Defense Force (Reserve): 1,529,911
Central Defense Force (Reserve): 1,830,671
Southeastern Defense Force (Reserve): 2,192,385
Western Defense Force (Reserve): 1,711,864
(OOC: These military numbers may seem somewhat high, but keep in mind that Songhai has fought many wars in its time.)
Early 2007: Violence in the Darfur Region of Sudan reaches a crescendo as African Union troops leave the area. No UN troops are sent in to restore order.
Late 2007: Several West and Central African nations, led by Nigeria, send in troops to the Darfur Region with support from private aid agencies around the world. The UN largely ignores the area as it is occupied elsewhere.
2008: Violence flares in Nigeria as Muslims in the north come into conflict with the government. These terrorists are funded partly by foreign Muslim countries angry over Nigeria’s involvement in Sudan.
2010: The National Unity Government in Cote D’Ivoire falls apart as opposition groups take over the capital. Loyalists fight back and a bloody civil war erupts.
2011: The Ivorian Civil War as it called spreads to Ghana, after opposition guerillas there assassinate the President.
2012: Muslim insurgents in Benin believed to be closely linked with those in Nigeria, strike in the capital, unleashing suicide bombs killing hundreds. After the President is assassinated, Togolese Military Forces seize the opportunity and quickly annex Benin.
2013: The military in Togo stages a coup and General Tinashe takes control of the country, instituting a harsh authoritarian regime. The insurgents in the former country of Benin are put down ruthlessly. Many international agencies like the Red Cross ask the UN and the US to intervene but they do not send in any forces.
2014: Under the guise of restoring order, Togolese Military Forces move into Ghana trying to conquer the country while it is in the middle of a civil war. Most of the Ghanaian factions unite for a time to halt the Togolese advance, but this unity quickly falls apart and the situation in Ghana becomes even worse than before.
2015: The Government of Sierra Leone is rocked by scandals and charges of corruption. Rebel groups gain support among the populace and the Military is barely able to keep the country from sliding into civil war.
2016-2018: The civil wars in Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana rage on with hundreds of thousands and civilian and military casualties.
2019: The Guinean Military stages a coup and takes control over the government. Yet separatists remain strong in the country.
2020: After the assassination of the leader of Sierra Leone, another African civil war erupts engulfing Sierra Leone and the nearby Guinea.
2021: The Ivorian People’s Party (IPP) finally ends the civil war in the country by taking firm control of the capital and all provinces. Covert support is given by the IPP to anti-Togolese forces in Ghana.
2022: The Guinean General in control of the country is assassinated, presumably by Senegalese supported rebels. Senegal promptly invades Guinea, with the goal of a quick victory. Yet this eludes them as Guinea fights back with support from the IPP.
2023: A dirty bomb is exploded in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, by Islamic rebels, financed by Sudan. Chad responds by declaring war on Sudan and the second Chadian-Sudanese war began. Nigeria sends arms and supplies to the Chadian government.
2024: Cote D’Ivoire declares war on Togo and invades Ghana to drive back the Togolese forces there. The Ghanaian capital, Accra, is captured by the IPP, yet a Togolese counter attack results in the IPP being driven back to the western half of Ghana. Ghana has now seen war for 13 years.
2025: Senegal strong-arms Gambia into joining it in the war against Guinea. Guinea-Bissau responds by joining sides with Guinea and a major offensive pushes Senegalese forces back into Senegal.
2026: In Liberia, after Government scandals, the Military stages a coup and takes power. General Olabode heads the new government, while promising to institute democratic reforms.
2027-2029: The Senegalese-Guinean War, The Ghanaian War and the Second Chadian-Sudanese war continue to rage on. Sierra Leone disintegrates even further into chaos.
2030: Nigeria officially joins the side of Chad in their war with Sudan. Nigerian reinforcements help fuel a major Chadian offensive.
2031: Mauritanian Generals stage a coup, taking control of the government, no one pays much attention.
2032: A Pro-IPP Party gains control in Burkina Faso elections, and soon declares war on Togo.
2033: Another Coup takes place in Liberia and General Ndukwe Kaluti takes control of the government.
2034: With Sierra Leone in chaos and after building up military forces Kaluti invades the country and quickly conquers it. The Songhai Empire is founded and Kaluti takes the title: His Imperial Majesty, Ruler of Liberia and Monarch of Sierra Leone, Ndukwe Kaluti.
2034: Kaluti signs peace accords with another African tyrant, Udale Kiwanade of Angola. The two leaders agree to unify Africa under their commands.
Early 2035: The Songhai Empire allies with Senegal and declares war on Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Caught between two enemies, Guinea quickly is knocked out and divided up by Songhai and Senegal.
Late 2035: After Senegalese forces have returned home, the Songhai Empire invades Senegal and Gambia.
2036: After a hard fought war, Senegal and Gambia surrender and join the Songhai Empire which now includes the former countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Senegal.
2036: Togolese forces continue to hold out against the IPP and Burkina Faso.
2037: Continuing the “divide and conquer” strategy, the Songhai Empire allies with Togo and declares war against Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Cote D’Ivoire falls quickly against the two forces, while Burkina Faso holds out somewhat longer, though eventually surrenders. Togo gains Ghana, while the Songhai Empire gains Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
2038: The Songhai Empire celebrates the birth of Kaluti’s son, Nake.
2039: Imperial expansion continues as the Empire invades Mali in a surprise attack. Large gains are made initially and Mauritania joins the war on the side of Mali.
2040: The war between the Empire and Mali and Mauritania continues, while the Chadian-Sudanese war ends with the Treaty of Abuja. The terms were such that Sudan had to help rebuild the Chadian capital, along with paying reparations to Chad. Chad also gained some territory in western Sudan, while the Nubian Republic in southwest Sudan was created. Darfur would be in the Republic so it would hopefully stop the violence and the young Republic would be protected by Chad and Nigeria.
2041: While the war in Mali continues, Togo suddenly betrays the Empire and invades while the majority of the Empire’s soldiers are engaged elsewhere. Togolese forces make huge gains even coming within 50 miles of the Capital of the Empire, Monrovia. Yet they are stopped with great effort.
2042: The Empire, fighting for its life, gambles everything on an amphibious assault in Benin. It works perfectly, cutting the supply lines of the Togolese forces and 3 months later Togo is added to the Empire.
2042: Cameroon quietly annexes Equatorial Guinea while the rest of the world is occupied elsewhere.
2043: Now able to concentrate on Mali and Mauritania, the Empire conquers the two countries quickly. The Songhai Empire now consists of the former countries of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.
2044-2048: These 5 years are a time of great prosperity for the Empire as it is at peace and advancing technologically. The Songhai Space Agency (SSA) is founded and launches several satellites.
2049: The Confederation of Free African Nations (CFAN) is founded and includes Nigeria, Chad, the Nubian Republic, and Niger.
2049: In his quest for ever more territory Kaluti declares war on the CFAN. Fighting rages with only small advances on either side.
2050: While feinting a major Amphibious Invasion of Nigeria, Imperial Forces move into Niger. The CFAN, remembering the Amphibious Invasion that took out Togo, bites on the bait and Imperial Forces make huge gains.
2051: Imperial Forces continue to make modest gains as their better equipment and higher numbers take a toll on the CFAN.
2052: Sudan seeing that Nigeria and Chad are fighting for their lives, quietly and quickly annexes the Nubian Republic, spurring a new round of violence there.
2052: Cameroon, seizing the opportunity, allies with the Songhai Empire and invades Nigeria in the rear.
2053: Nigeria finally capitulates under attack from 3 sides. Chad is close to surrendering also.
2054: Chad surrenders and throughout the Empire there are celebrations that the Great West African War is over.
2055: Disagreements between Cameroon and the Songhai Empire over how to split up the former CFAN leads to yet another war.
2056: Facing the full might of the Empire Cameroon does not last too long and surrenders to the Empire.
2057: The Songhai Empire consolidates its many gains.
2058: Kaluti, meanwhile, has extended the Songhai Empire to include Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, the Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Chad, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Songhai is huge, and a powerful African nation.
2059-2065: The Empire grows economically and the people enjoy the peace that actually seems to last.
2066: Under the guise of stopping the violence in the Darfur Region of Sudan, the Empire invades Sudan.
2067: After a year of vicious and bloody fighting, Sudan surrenders the newest province of the Songhai Empire. Research on energy weapons begins.
2068: Imperial Forces quickly conquer the Western Sahara, but are stopped at Morocco by the death of Ndukwe Kaluti the first and greatest Emperor. He died at the age of 78 and his son Nake Kaluti becomes the new Emperor.
2069: The conflict between Israel and the MEC erupts and the Songhai Empire remains neutral. The Trans-African Railroad is finished with the main line running from Dakar to Monrovia to Abuja to Abeche to Port Sudan.
2070-2076: The years of reform during which Nake institutes many democratic reforms. The Empire is split into 6 provinces, the Northwestern Province consisting of Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and the Western Sahara, the Southwestern Province of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire, the Central Province of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger, the South Eastern Province of Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and the Western Province of Chad and Sudan. Each province has significant autonomy to decide its internal affairs and elect its own legislature and Governor. An Imperial Senate is created consisting of 50 Representatives from each province, along with a People’s Assembly which consists of Representatives from each province based on the population of the province. The higher the population, the more Representatives the province gets. The Emperor serves as the Head of State and acts as the deciding vote if there is a tie in one of the Imperial Legislatures. Nake also upgraded the public education system and improved the infrastructure of the Empire.
2077: The Songhai expansion finally is stopped at Morocco. Nake Kaluti establishes that the empire is complete. Songhai has added the Western Sahara Province to their empire and Sudan.
2078-2080: The Songhai Empire remains neutral during all the major wars raging throughout the world.
2078: The Songhai Empire is one of the first nations to recognize the Ottoman Confederation.
2080: The Songhai people mourn the deaths of so many civilians during the Ragnarok Year.
2081: Energy weapons are finally developed in the Empire, only for basic use.
2082: Nake applauds the end of the war in Asia. The Capital of the Empire is moved to Abuja for a more central location.
2083: The Songhai Empire is one of the first nations to recognize NADA.
2084: The Empire recognizes the ULN.
2085: Twin sons are born to Nake and the Empire celebrates.
2086: The Empire recognizes the new nation, the Iberian Dominion.
2087: The Songhai Empire continues to advance technologically, while the SSA builds more satellites and begins designing shuttles to ferry materials and crew back and forth to space.
2088-2096: The SSA continues to expand and two more children of Nake are born, one a girl and the other a boy. The first Songhaian in space occurs during a short flight of a shuttle carrying 5 people.
2097: The Songhai people watch in awe as the first men land on Mars. The event spurs a great desire in the Songhai people to travel to space themselves.
2100: Birth of the 22nd Century, modern day. Songhai is about to have another round of elections. Nake is 62 years old and still going strong.
Demographics
Population: 982,713,191
Languages: English (Official), French, Arabic, Indigenous Languages
Religions: 34% Muslim, 30% Christian, None or Non-Affiliated 20%, Indigenous Beliefs 16%
Government
Head of State: His Imperial Majesty Nake Kaluti
Head of Government: Imperial Senate and People’s Assembly
Capital: Abuja
Type of Government: Decentralized Constitutional Monarchy
Administrative Divisions: Northwestern Province consisting of Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and the Western Sahara; the Southwestern Province of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire; the Central Province of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger; the South Eastern Province of Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea; and the Western Province of Chad and Sudan
Major Political Parties:
Songhai Imperial Party – A moderate/conservative party, favoring a free-market system with a moderate amount of social welfare. Most popular among pro-Emperor supporters and centrists. Controls most of the judicial system and has the support of the Emperor.
Islamic People’s Party (IPP) – A conservative party that believes the Songhai Empire should follow the Koran strictly. Popular among Muslims (obviously) and usually the opposition party in the People’s Assembly. One of its main campaign points is the need for an Islamic Emperor.
Libertarian Party – Liberal on social matters yet favors a free-market system with very limited social welfare. It is mainly supported by the middle class and by businessmen.
Worker’s Party of Songhai – A socialist party, socially liberal yet wants to nationalize all major industries and provide a big social welfare program. It is very popular among the lower class yet has been marginalized somewhat lately by the economic boom in Songhai.
Imperial Senate Composition (250 seats total):
Majority Party: Coalition of the Imperial Party and the Libertarian Party – 132 seats (53%)
Opposition Party: IPP – 60 seats (24%)
Other Parties: Worker’s Party – 53 seats (21%), Others Parties - 5 seats (2%)
People’s Assembly Composition (491 seats total):
Majority Party: Coalition of the Imperial Party and the Libertarian Party – 236 seats (48%)
Opposition Party: Worker’s Party – 133 seats (27%)
Other Parties: IPP – 98 seats (20%), Other Parties – 24 seats (5%)
Provincial Governments:
Northwestern Province – Imperial Party and IPP
Southwestern Province – Imperial Party
Central Province – Worker’s Party
Southeastern Province – Libertarian Party
Western Province - IPP
Armed Forces:
Imperial Army: 5,129,711
Imperial Navy: 2,351,780
Imperial Air Force: 2,338,509
Northwestern Defense Force (Reserve): 666,159
Southwestern Defense Force (Reserve): 1,529,911
Central Defense Force (Reserve): 1,830,671
Southeastern Defense Force (Reserve): 2,192,385
Western Defense Force (Reserve): 1,711,864
(OOC: These military numbers may seem somewhat high, but keep in mind that Songhai has fought many wars in its time.)