Granzi
19-06-2007, 20:20
Brief Background on the Commonwealth
Since independence was granted from the European powers, the nations of western Africa have borne the burden of their colonial past silently. Environmental degradation stemming from centuries of exploitative practices forced the people into ever shrinking parcels of productive land. Bloody conflicts erupted from competition over limited natural resources, disrupting the economy and displacing millions of individuals from their homes. With no one to tend the earth, the fragile topsoil blew away during increasingly common dust storms that heralded expansion of the sprawling Sahara. Violence fed catastrophe, disasters caused violence, feeding an endless cycle while the rest of the world stood passively.
West Africa would have been condemned to continue this fate had it not been for one man. Maa'si Yubaru, president of Nigeria, realized that the fates of all west African nations were inextricably tied. His own nation, with its rich deposits of oil and natural gas, could fuel the heavy industry of the Ivory Coast. The agricultural bounties of Niger, watered by the river of the same name, had the potential to become the region's breadbasket. But without commercial and political ties, these visions could never come to fruition.
Thus, in the early years of the twenty-first century, Yubaru invited Nigeria's neighbors to an international conference held in the capital of Abuja. Five nations heeded his call; representatives arrived from Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Benin. Out of this conference came the Agreement of Mutual Association (AMA). Affirming Yubaru's vision of a united west Africa, these six nations combined politically to create the new Commonwealth of West African States (CWAS), with a capital at Lagos.
Under the leadership of Maa'si Yubaru, CWAS experienced record economic growth. Currency was standardized, and the government stimulated private investment by sanctioning a series of mass public works that employed hundreds of thousands of workers to construct a road and rail network linking the region. Yubaru initially nationalized many industries, and lured educated African nationals back to their homelands with financial incentives to work in these sectors. Once the economy was firmly in line with government policies, based on a belief that native Africans should profit first from their resources, he allowed foreign corporations to return.
In addition, the military was modernized and expanded. The United Armed Forces (UAF) would play an instrumental role in ultimately achieving Yubaru's goal: integration of all west Africa. Whereas before none of the member-states had a navy, under the supervision of Defense Minister Bangisa M'fso, the Commonwealth acquired state-of-the-art carriers, battleships, and destroyers. A great naval base was established at Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast. Armaments were standardized across the United Army, with new technologies now incorporated into the military.
Later, the Republic of Togo was integrated into the Commonwealth. When communication with its dictator-president Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé broke down, UAF marines moved into the nation. Within days, the capital of Lomé was secured. Plans for a major offensive to the north was pre-empted by a surrender of the remaining militias loyal to the old regime. UAF forces then switched to a peacekeeping role, and worked to establish control of the rest of the country while laying groundwork for social and economic ties.
Government and Politics
The Commonwealth of West African States has a democratic government modeled after those of the western powers. A president leads the executive branch, and appoints a group of advisors that head the various ministries (Defense, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, etc.) He or she is elected by popular vote of all eligible citizens every four years, and may serve a total of four terms. The current president of the Commonwealth is Maa'si Yubaru, who is midway through his second term.
Important ministries within the government include the following. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the largest, and is involved in establishing and executing foreign policy as outlined by the president. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, currently Sotu Idoumya, is also personally in charge of greeting diplomats and representing the Commonwealth at formal events should the president not be available.
The Ministry of Defense is in charge of defending the sovereign lands, waters, and airspace of the Commonwealth from external and internal threats. It includes the three branches of the United Armed Forces, which are the army, navy, and air force. Independent of these branches, but still incorporated into the UAF, includes the Commonwealth’s intelligence unit, NCIB, and the special operations forces under the personal command of the Defense Minister, currently Bangisa M'fso.
The Ministry of Commerce deals with international trade agreements, overseas domestic markets, and works to insure that all the citizens within the Commonwealth are well-provided for. It sets regulations on the quality of merchandise and also overseas the security of imports and exports. The Minister of Commerce is currently Muhammadu Buhari.
The legislative bodies of the Commonwealth are the Senate and the People’s Assembly. The Senate is composed of 100 seats elected by popular vote, and each representing one of the one-hundred administrative districts of the Commonwealth. The People’s Assembly contains 400 seats, and each Assemblyperson is elected by his or her constiuents in a representative district. No bill may become law without passage through both the Senate and the People’s Assembly.
Political parties are discouraged in the Commonwealth, and as such, there are no formalized national parties. Each person running for public office is encouraged to adopt his or own political platform. However, there are several loose affliations prevalent among politicians. Chief among them are the ‘Unionists,’ ackowledging Yubaru as their symbolic head, and the ‘Nationalists,’ currently led by Speaker of the Senate Dyins Fzsia.
General National Statistics
Official National Title: Commonwealth of West African States
Informal National Title: Commonwealth, CWAS
National Motto: Freedom, Unity, and Progress
Capital City: Lagos
Largest City: Lagos (12,543,028)
Total Population: 265,059,170 (2010 census)
Official Languages: English, French
Government Style: Representative Democracy
Gross National Product: $1062.4 billion
GDP per capita: $4006.65
National Currency: New Dollar
Annual Government Budget: $318.72 billion
Annual Defense Budget: $79.68 billion
Number of Armed Forces Personnel: 1,060,236
Since independence was granted from the European powers, the nations of western Africa have borne the burden of their colonial past silently. Environmental degradation stemming from centuries of exploitative practices forced the people into ever shrinking parcels of productive land. Bloody conflicts erupted from competition over limited natural resources, disrupting the economy and displacing millions of individuals from their homes. With no one to tend the earth, the fragile topsoil blew away during increasingly common dust storms that heralded expansion of the sprawling Sahara. Violence fed catastrophe, disasters caused violence, feeding an endless cycle while the rest of the world stood passively.
West Africa would have been condemned to continue this fate had it not been for one man. Maa'si Yubaru, president of Nigeria, realized that the fates of all west African nations were inextricably tied. His own nation, with its rich deposits of oil and natural gas, could fuel the heavy industry of the Ivory Coast. The agricultural bounties of Niger, watered by the river of the same name, had the potential to become the region's breadbasket. But without commercial and political ties, these visions could never come to fruition.
Thus, in the early years of the twenty-first century, Yubaru invited Nigeria's neighbors to an international conference held in the capital of Abuja. Five nations heeded his call; representatives arrived from Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Benin. Out of this conference came the Agreement of Mutual Association (AMA). Affirming Yubaru's vision of a united west Africa, these six nations combined politically to create the new Commonwealth of West African States (CWAS), with a capital at Lagos.
Under the leadership of Maa'si Yubaru, CWAS experienced record economic growth. Currency was standardized, and the government stimulated private investment by sanctioning a series of mass public works that employed hundreds of thousands of workers to construct a road and rail network linking the region. Yubaru initially nationalized many industries, and lured educated African nationals back to their homelands with financial incentives to work in these sectors. Once the economy was firmly in line with government policies, based on a belief that native Africans should profit first from their resources, he allowed foreign corporations to return.
In addition, the military was modernized and expanded. The United Armed Forces (UAF) would play an instrumental role in ultimately achieving Yubaru's goal: integration of all west Africa. Whereas before none of the member-states had a navy, under the supervision of Defense Minister Bangisa M'fso, the Commonwealth acquired state-of-the-art carriers, battleships, and destroyers. A great naval base was established at Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast. Armaments were standardized across the United Army, with new technologies now incorporated into the military.
Later, the Republic of Togo was integrated into the Commonwealth. When communication with its dictator-president Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé broke down, UAF marines moved into the nation. Within days, the capital of Lomé was secured. Plans for a major offensive to the north was pre-empted by a surrender of the remaining militias loyal to the old regime. UAF forces then switched to a peacekeeping role, and worked to establish control of the rest of the country while laying groundwork for social and economic ties.
Government and Politics
The Commonwealth of West African States has a democratic government modeled after those of the western powers. A president leads the executive branch, and appoints a group of advisors that head the various ministries (Defense, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, etc.) He or she is elected by popular vote of all eligible citizens every four years, and may serve a total of four terms. The current president of the Commonwealth is Maa'si Yubaru, who is midway through his second term.
Important ministries within the government include the following. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the largest, and is involved in establishing and executing foreign policy as outlined by the president. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, currently Sotu Idoumya, is also personally in charge of greeting diplomats and representing the Commonwealth at formal events should the president not be available.
The Ministry of Defense is in charge of defending the sovereign lands, waters, and airspace of the Commonwealth from external and internal threats. It includes the three branches of the United Armed Forces, which are the army, navy, and air force. Independent of these branches, but still incorporated into the UAF, includes the Commonwealth’s intelligence unit, NCIB, and the special operations forces under the personal command of the Defense Minister, currently Bangisa M'fso.
The Ministry of Commerce deals with international trade agreements, overseas domestic markets, and works to insure that all the citizens within the Commonwealth are well-provided for. It sets regulations on the quality of merchandise and also overseas the security of imports and exports. The Minister of Commerce is currently Muhammadu Buhari.
The legislative bodies of the Commonwealth are the Senate and the People’s Assembly. The Senate is composed of 100 seats elected by popular vote, and each representing one of the one-hundred administrative districts of the Commonwealth. The People’s Assembly contains 400 seats, and each Assemblyperson is elected by his or her constiuents in a representative district. No bill may become law without passage through both the Senate and the People’s Assembly.
Political parties are discouraged in the Commonwealth, and as such, there are no formalized national parties. Each person running for public office is encouraged to adopt his or own political platform. However, there are several loose affliations prevalent among politicians. Chief among them are the ‘Unionists,’ ackowledging Yubaru as their symbolic head, and the ‘Nationalists,’ currently led by Speaker of the Senate Dyins Fzsia.
General National Statistics
Official National Title: Commonwealth of West African States
Informal National Title: Commonwealth, CWAS
National Motto: Freedom, Unity, and Progress
Capital City: Lagos
Largest City: Lagos (12,543,028)
Total Population: 265,059,170 (2010 census)
Official Languages: English, French
Government Style: Representative Democracy
Gross National Product: $1062.4 billion
GDP per capita: $4006.65
National Currency: New Dollar
Annual Government Budget: $318.72 billion
Annual Defense Budget: $79.68 billion
Number of Armed Forces Personnel: 1,060,236