BAWASEKO SLIPS FURTHER INTO CHAOS AS PRESIDENT FLEES
7th October 2024
1 hour ago
[Downtown Sekongo, fires from unrest are visible]
The island nation of Bawaseko is no stranger to turmoil, the tiny nation of 1.5 million sitting at the crossroads of the world. A stretch of rock and jungle suspended in the blue of the Meterran sea, Bawaseko has been a colonial port, a dependency of the Astragonse Empire and until recently a major hub for shipping and oil production. The 70s saw the nation enter boom times as oil reserves and its position as a primary arterial shipping lane allowed the economy to grow rapidly.
Since 1995 the countries economy has been in sharp decline owing to a combination of shipping routes re-routing to the more profitable Tyrooz and Rio ports and shrinking oil revenue as its offshore deposits dried up. Inflation in the early 2000’s led to the local currency, the Kongelo, becoming essentially worthless. Corruption has been firmly entrenched ever since, kickbacks, graft and bribery, all everyday occurrences.
Some relief came in 2010 when Bashadh and Kashka purchased land in the countries’ rural zones in order to establish several research facilities. By large however the island continued to grow increasingly volatile, its economy shifting from stagnant to terminally in decline. By 2020 the republic of Bawaseko was an Astragonese economic dependency in all but name, its failing government propped up by Astragonese troops and its currency superseded by the Kashai in all walks of life.
Things came to a head in early 2024 when a nationalist revolt led by 500 officers from the islands self-defense force seized large areas of the capital in a bid to oust incumbent President Feliz Kadongo, the president’s cabinet soon began to fracture as multiple ministers fled the country or joined various rebel groups. As of yesterday President Kadongo is believed to have quit the country on the last flight out of Sekongo international airport likely headed for Saintonge.
With civil society in total collapse and thousands of refugees fleeing rebel groups, Astragon has reluctantly acted to stabilize the situation. The 14th expeditionary fleet of the Imperial Navy has blockaded the island, astragonese troops have created a fortified green zone in the former harbour area and marines from the 123rd Naval Infantry regiment are currently acting to secure all Astragonese interests on the island.
[Astragonese Marines on Patrol in Bawaseko]
The potential for things to escalate is immense, already communist groups in the rurals are believed to be clashing with nationalist militias and criminal gangs essentially rule the capital. Worse still is the looming humanitarian crisis, hundreds of thousands are without water, power or basic amenities and the refugee centres along the coast are overwhelmed. With the island lying on a few thousand miles from mainland Astragon the Exalted Empire has no desire to see the situation spiral.
“A no-fly zone is in effect around the island, our military will work with aid agencies to restore order to the island and ensure the safety of its people, we ask that all citizens of Bawaseko co-operate with peacekeeping forces and follow any and all instructions given” declared a spokesperson for the imperial government during today’s press conference
It remains to be seen if this struggling island nation can be pulled back from the brink of collapse.