Red Sea Republic

[Hereno]

Breaking News from the RSRN
Aden, Red Sea Republic

Parliament has passed a bill with over 2/3 majority authorizing an injection of funds eight times their annual budget into the Red Sea Republican Space Agency (RSRSA) following a pledge of technological assistance from the international community. Several satellites not due to be finished for three years have seen their launch dates moved up considerably, up to the end of this year. Scientists estimate that sustained funding at this rate, which would account for less than 3% of total government expenditure, could have citizens of the Republic in space within five years time. Edited May 23, 2014 by Hereno

[Hereno]

An Announcement from the Red Sea Republic

Aden - A project two years in the making, the Global Trade and Finance Center at Aden has finally opened its doors just one year before the next presidential elections. It is expected to not only bring a host of new businesses and jobs to the Republic, but also to stand as a light of civilization in a world that plunged into darkness. While a few thousand members of the Socialist Party picketed in protest outside, a nationwide approval rating of 67% seems to indicate that their voices are falling largely on deaf ears.

[Hereno]

2 years until elections: How is the government doing?
An inventory conducted by the RSRN

Question 1: Do you believe the government is committed to the promotion of Islam in the realm?
A: 57% said YES

Question 2: Should the government take a more active role in the economy?
A: 62% said NO

Question 3: If it were Constitutionally possible, would you support a second term by current President El-Amin?
A: 47% said YES Edited May 24, 2014 by Hereno

[Hereno]

Republican Navy on the Move

RSRN has recently learned that the Republican Navy has deployed an undetermined amount of ships to blockade the Red Sea exit of the Suez Canal. Experts see this move as a support of the Babylonian blockade against the French at the mouth of the Suez.

[Hereno]

RSRN News Update:

In accordance with a new treaty signed with the Babylonian Empire, the Red Sea Republic is now considering the Suez canal and surrounding area as part of its great nation. Plans are underway to protect its sovereignty as we speak. More on that as we get it.

Speaking of the Suez, the "Suez Crisis" has finally reached a peaceful end after a tense deliberation. The French fleet was spotted not too long ago sailing away from the canal without any shots fired, witnesses have reported. The Republican Navy has since been spotted back in Aden docking. Edited May 26, 2014 by Hereno

[Hereno]

News From the Front: RSRN Exclusive

A treaty has been signed between the Republican government and the leadership of the city of Medina. Medina will become a tributary city to the Republic, and will in return receive a guarantee of independence - backed with force, if necessary - by the Red Sea Republic. Troop advancements have stopped, and the Army seems to be focused on rebuilding any damaged infrastructure and getting things back to normal in the Hejaz region.

[Euphaia]

The provisional government of Hungary greets and recognizes the Red Sea Republic and it's government, and offers to exchange embassies and ambassadors once our new government has been elected.

[Hereno]

The Republic has sealed a deal with Southern China to acquire 500 Hsiung Feng III-type anti-ship missile-wielding armored units, along with appropriate ammunition. They will be on 30-minute readiness along the Red Sea and Suez canal. Along the Suez itself, they will be joined by a small reserve unit of 20,000 soldiers who will run communications/Naval facilities along with a local economy based on the military presence. Mecca itself will remain the only city in the country without any on-duty military personnel, although its police numbers are very high to cope with Hajjis.

[Hereno]

The provisional government of Hungary greets and recognizes the Red Sea Republic and it's government, and offers to exchange embassies and ambassadors once our new government has been elected.

Permission granted. Land has been allocated for you in Aden.

[Euphaia]

Our provisional government thanks the Red Sea Republic greatly, and offers the Red Sea Republic to pick out one of the many embassies in our capital that were left from the earlier Hungarian regimes.  We will have it renovated for you, if you so wish, or provide your ambassador up to an $100,000 allotment to hire someone him or herself to renovate or remodel the embassy with.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Euphaia

[Hereno]

Aden, Red Sea Republic

We have word that the Security of Trade and Immigration Act has just been signed into law, after narrowly making it through Parliament. Among other provisions, the controversial STIA bill routes all immigrants as well as trade going into the Republic through either the island of Socotra or at facilities that will soon be operational along the Suez canal. Only after being cleared will they then be allowed to dock at Aden, Djibouti, or any other port in the country.

[Hereno]

Suez and Sinai: Report from the field

RSRN is reporting that orders were given approximately 2 hours ago for the military presence around the Suez canal to capture the Sinai peninsula. We are told that this is for defensive purposes, to prevent landing craft from European nations landing between the borders of the Babylonian Empire and the borders of the Red Sea Republic itself and flanking the Suez fortification site.

Earlier in the week, of course, we know that a treaty signed between the Babylonian Empire and the Republic led to an agreement between the two nations regarding the canal. The two nations agreed that the Suez will be under Republican control and administration. However, it also agreed that the Babylonian Empire may close the Suez to any country it is at war with at the time; of course, this would be suspended during war time between the two regional powers.

This could also be viewed in the context of creating a little bit of space between the Babylonians and the Red Sea Republic proper. With recent but unsubstantiated news from Anatolia of a Babylonian military force conquering land, perhaps Parliament is wanting a little bit of breathing room in case the Empire turns its jaws to the Republic.

However, whatever the reason, the Sinai is now undergoing annexation with defense structures being installed by Republican engineers. The government has not yet confirmed or denied rumors that 30,000 active duty force may be reinforcing the 20,000 reserve troops already in the Suez vicinity. Edited May 27, 2014 by Hereno

[lkfht]

"The Republic of Italy condemns in the strongest terms the military occupation in and around the Suez Canal. Considering it's a vital trade route for Euro-Afro trade, the ability for one nation to halt international trade is unacceptable."

 

- Foreign Minister Melissa Manzi

[Zoot Zoot]

The Empire of Babylon should note, that the closure of the Suez Canal is strictly regarding miliary vessels. Civilian vessels will be granted safe passage pending Axum and Red Sea Republic checks on the other side.

[Hereno]

"The Republic of Italy condemns in the strongest terms the military occupation in and around the Suez Canal. Considering it's a vital trade route for Euro-Afro trade, the ability for one nation to halt international trade is unacceptable."
 
- Foreign Minister Melissa Manzi

Hence why the Red Sea Republic recently, with the help of Axum and the Cape Republic, protected the city of Tangier from invading Italian forces. Our annexation of the canal is in accordance with treaty and is being done to protect trade through a proper stewardship of the canal by our Republic. It is not dissimilar to the stewardship of the city of Mecca, which has been done with utmost respect and was lauded and wanted by the population. We frown at your attempt to slander our great nation, and believe that the Italian nation could best protect its trade by supporting our fair administration.

[Hereno]

Situation on the Ground

The city of Cairo and its surrounding municipalities have voted to become part of the Red Sea Republic, with 56% of the population in favor. Violence has broken out in the streets as 20,000 Republican troops moved into the city after being requested by the Mayor. According to representatives from the government of the RSR, approximately 100,000 soldiers are now on duty in the Cairo, Suez, and Sinai regions of northern Republican territory. This is in addition to another 50,000 soldiers who have been tasked with completing the assimilation of Mecca, Jeddah, and other cities in the Hejaz region.

Our analysts predict that the influx of so many new citizens into the Republic may cause havoc internally as demographics shift and millions of persons register to vote in the election just under two years away. However, anonymous sources within the government have stated plainly that there are no more plans for any expansion within the Republic, and that all major military objectives in the region have been achieved, save for the complete pacification of militants in Cairo.

[OOC:]
[spoiler][OOC]Expect soon to see a lot of update in the OP to military numbers, deployments, and demographic/political changes due to the annexations of the past week or so IC.[OOC][/spoiler]

[Hereno]

[ooc][spoiler]

The OP has been updated to reflect demographic changes. Things of note include:
1. DEFCON level is now 3.
2. Large introductions to the Republican Army in both small and large arms.
3. Huge economic boost from Egyptian and Saudi areas, as well as production and modernization, such as the space program and GTFC. Unemployment is down to 4.5%, although the rate of economic growth has dropped below 4% annually.
4. Sweeping demographic changes, with Sunni Islam becoming even more prevalent.
5. Population has almost doubled, now at 43,900,000.
6. A new political party has been introduced from Egypt, the Arab Unification party. It currently holds no seats in Parliament.
7. Quality of life has significantly improved across the Republic, with GDP PPP up to 17,309.

[/spoiler]
[ooc]

[Hereno]

The Spread of the Fivers

The government elite of the Republic were all from the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam that permeated the region surrounding Sana'a. Along with increasing liberalism in thought, many Muslims were willing to try different branches of the faith to see which one suited them most, as opposed to simply sticking with what their parents handed down to them. As a result, many persons, especially youths in the beginning, became Zaidis. Over time, the religion took hold in many of the middle-aged and older populations, and within the next five years it would look something like this:
 
Key
Green: Sunni
Tan: Shia
Blue: Christian
 


.

[Hereno]

Cairo, Red Sea Republic

Streets are mainly calm now, but only a few hours ago Cairo was filled with protesting new Republican citizens demanding interim elections to Parliament. With just under half of the country's population not currently represented due to widespread annexations and consolidation, the people have demanded to have their voice heard. In response, President El-Amin has promised to hold the elections, despite his original plan issued to the Parliament which ensured the exact opposite. It is being widely seen as a political move rather than an attempt to stop the violence, as Mr. El-Amin's party is likely to gain many new seats thanks to the inclusion of Mecca and the Tihamah which are very important to the mostly-Muslim population of the country. Polls currently place President El-Amin's approval rating at 68%, despite his National Republican party consisting of only about one third of the Republic's registered voting population. Edited May 30, 2014 by Hereno

[Hereno]

[Classified]

[spoiler]
Scientists in league with the RSRSA have begun applying their missile research to military endeavors. Borrowing from DF-3 designs currently available, they hope to extend the range of the missile while maintaining the 3.3MT nuclear payload.
[/spoiler]

[Hereno]

The RSR has notified all neighbors of its intention to conduct nuclear and non-nuclear missile testing in the Arabian sea.

[Hereno]

Somewhere in the Hadramut, Red Sea Republic

Two bearded men, dressed in traditional Yemeni dress, are sitting around a radio transmitter, tuning and listening for a specific station. After a few minutes, and a little bit of frustration, they manage to pick up on the signal.

zz..zzz.zzt.. Alright.... no problems bzzztt bzzbzzzzzzzzzzzzt end.

Roger that

sssssssssssss... Coordinates have... been pssshshawwt.. control....

azzzzzzztt pshaweeheeeer

The first psshsssszz missiles will be launched... 30 seconds.

25 ....

20 seconds

Shit.. zzzt shit! Abort the launch!

psshhhhhh What? What's bzzt going-

The station drops signal and the static fades as the two men turn to each other and grin. The older man begins to speak. "We have won, brother. Allah has rewarded our patience. Now, we wait." he said, definitively, before opening up his sack and sharing a pouch of khat with his comrade-in-arms. Fourteen 3.3MT nuclear warheads would be exploding over the skies of Sana'a and Aden by morning, knocking out all communication with the rest of the Republic and leaving millions dead. The people of the Hadramut would, once again, be free from the tyranny of their countrymen to the West. And the Western half of the Arabian peninsula would plunge into a darkness as gripping as the Kaaba, that had not been seen since before Allah opened the eyes of the Prophet himself.

[Captain Enema]

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marines are ordered to deploy to the stricken areas and to provide aid and relief to those in need of it. The former Red Sea Republic holdings on the African continent are returned under the auspices of the Open African Protectorate and a single Civil Action Team is dispatched to oversee the disarmament of military and paramilitary units. Pursuant to long standing tradition, those members who wish to remain in armed service will be given the option of attending a Kingdom training course and enlisting in one of the Kingdom's Legions.

 

The rest who choose not to attempt the grueling indoctrination training of the Legion, will be paid a generous settlement taken from assets to be seized from the government of the Red Sea Republic and returned to civilian life.