Cobura

[Auditorii]

Democratic Republic of Cobura founded!
October, 4671

Sharba, Irkawa - After several months of intense talks, the formal ratification of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Cobura has happened. The interim National Assembly has ratified the constitution. President Merhawi Seife Boru welcomed the news and stated that the Coburan people had something to be very proud of today, especially those who had worked towards building the new regime over the past several months. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the Coburan people over the past several months have undergone a radical transformation from a pro-apartheid government to a government for the masses, something that some minorities have not taken kindly to. While the government of President Boru is largely Mallan and Coburan Majatran, the regime has promised itself a large stake in building relations with all Coburans. Following the announcement of the DRC's constitution, in his role as party chairman, President Boru announced the component parties of the Coburan Democratic Liberation Movement officially. The Mallan interest in the movement will be represented by the Coburan Democratic Party, the Coburan Majatran will be represented by the Majatran Socialist Ba'ath Party - Cobura Region, the Augustan interest will be represented by the Augustan Purple League, the Irkawan interest will be represented by the Irkawan People's Party and the Tokundian interest will be represented by the Radical Party. Despite the factionalization and fracturing, President Boru is eager to get to work.

In his speech he named the first governors of the new states. In the Tokundi State he named Vojkan Živanović as the new governor. In the Irkawa State he named Aboukis Stauragimes, in the Domale State he named close ally and Vice President Yaee Motuma Araya, in the largely Coburan Majatran state of Dilganato he named Jumail al-Sham. Finally in the Augustan minority state he named Aleksandro Strabomito. These would be appointed and in future elections they would be elected, but special permission was given via the National Assembly to conduct these appointments. Furthermore, the composition of regional legislatures has yet to be determined and the Governors will largely be responsible for organizing local elections with assistance from the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of the Interior, namely the National Election's Council. Officially, the Democratic Republic of Cobura will be a federative republic but the constitution provides ample opportunity for the central government to play a pivotal role in national unity and leadership.

Despite the promises of a better day for the new Coburan National Defense Force, those days look bleaker following a series of robberies and burglaries at military bases and ammo caches across Cobura. Minister of National Defense and Chief of the Defense Staff Esra Danichew Girum announced that since his interim term began as top soldier there have been over a dozen robberies and burglaries at lightly defended bases and ammo caches over the past several months. While President Boru was supportive of his pick as top soldier, he noted that he was "...confident that General Girum will fix such issues." One of the primary goals was the reintroduction of a limited conscription. The idea, pioneered by Deputy Chief of Defense Staff Lieutenant General Ignatio Vladimirido, will introduce conscription, those fit will be entered into training. Those that are not qualified will be passed onto the various agencies of government for screening for civil service employment and those not fit for that will be discharged. Lt. Gen. Vladimirido, the Deputy Chief of Defense Staff for the Logistics Directorate was eager to provide a "...dedicated, professional fighting force." He plans to have the force be 25% professional soldiers within a year, 50% by five years and 75% by ten years. While the ambitious plan seems far away, the Ministry of National Defense is highly supportive of it.

Economically, Cobura remains in relatively dire straights. Its economy, while eager for stability has remained untouched by the incoming government. President Boru promised movement on a number of his plans, including the re-opening of the Sharba Stock Exchange "...within the coming months." The President has formed an advisory council known as the "Coburan Economic Council" to tackle a number of issues facing the Coburan economy. It includes members and leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry and other leading business and finance officials from throughout Cobura.

[Auditorii]

Sharba Telegram
January 4772
Rise of the DFRC?



Manshōpi, Irkawan Federation - Following decades of neglect, government corruption and nepotism the return of the Coburan Democratic Liberation Movement (CDLM) underneath the leadership of Tokundian Radivoje Arsić, an unlikely candidate, has prompted a new sense of unity within the Coburan nation. The proposed Constitution of the Democratic Federal Republic of Cobura (DFRC) promised a unified federal government and promoted regional governments in the form of semi-autonomous governments coined as "constituent republics". The move was approved by several participating members of the CDLM, each representing a significant majority group within the CDLM. Four constituent republics were created, the Republic of Tokundia, the Ahmadi Republic of al-Qalea (the Fortress), the Mallan Republic and the Irkawan Federation; some have noted the lack of Augustan self-government as a sign that the continued dominance of the Augustans is not welcomed within the new Cobura but the first President of the DFRC denied such reports. "We spoke with the representative from the Augustan community and he noted that the Augustans in Cobura were content with their status and that they did not constitute a necessary majority in comparison to the others." Despite this, the rise of a "stable" government in Sharba, the new provision capital of the DFRC moving from Manshōpi.

The incoming President appointed close ally and Irkawan Aatif al-Dada as the first Prime Minister of the DFRC, a number of others were appointed as Deputy Prime Ministers. Medr Mignote Mebreatu, an ethnic Mallan was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister alongside Glikerio Mamalo, an Augustan. Sretomir Vladimirović, a General in a Tokundian paramilitary which propped up the Tokundian government in Tokundia was appointed as the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Defense Staff, firmly in charge of the Coburan National Defense Force (CNDF). Vladimirović has ties to several prominent Tokundian weapons manufacturers and will likely exploit this in order to bolster the pitiful state of the CNDF. Vladimirović was also appointed as a Deputy Prime Minister and given purview over the national defense and national security of the country. A number of other officials have provided basic improvements to their new ministries, for instance the Ministry of Finance underneath Coburan Majatran Mahboob al-Salik has promised to provide a basic foundation for tax collection and updating rosters of citizens to improve the number of tax collectors. The Ministry of Health and Social Services underneath Markos Finhas Selam has announced a "federal review" of all health and social service institutions within the country; something he hopes to have completed by the end of the year.

[Reddy]

Sharba Telegram

Going Back?
Tired Coburans May Be Ready To Embrace Old Names and Old Ways

May 4775

Coburans of all backgrounds have expressed weariness following the fall of the DFRC government. Many of them had supported the government hoping to see a form of federalism which would reduce intercommunal tensions in what is one of Terra's most divided countries - religiously and ethnically. Very limited interaction, economic and social remains, the localities pay little heed to the national government, let alone national interest particularly in a perenially weak economy.

In the immediate aftermath of fall of the DFRC, 17 violent riots and confrontations have been reported in the country. Six people in total were killed and more than 150 seriously injured. The conflicts tend to take place close to the boundaries of informally segregated neighbourhoods in cities and rural areas. "Where is the love?", asked a mournful 91 year old Theodora Yemke a retired teacher who says she remembers before this " manic disease of federalism and division took over. Indeed judging by the heavy attendance at the rallies of the new anti-federalist Union Party, Ms. Yemke's feelings appear to be shared by a significant number of Coburans.

The new party is hardly the most attractive of political movements; it openly promises to "reduce unwieldy liberties" through abolishing autonomous self government units and install a monarchy among other such regressive measures. This appeals to many along with the magical last name of the party's candidate for the monarchy - Abraha-Saksoure (the former, the name of the wealthy mining family, the later, the beloved old ruling dynasty)

The two families were rivals for power in the old days yet an opportune marriage between the claimant's parents Haile Abraha and Lady Theofino Saksoure-Manshopi-Zgmat united the two in him and created a leader acceptable to at least two of the great ethnic groups the Irkawans and the Mallans.

[Aquinas]

Malivian government denies Esinsindu massacre after cricket match mayhem

[Reddy]

The Southern Bell

Grand Vizier: It Could Happen Here

November 4775

Cobura's new leader Grand Vizier Yekuno Bekele made his first national address on national TV striking a noticeably grim tone.

The massive mandate that the Coburan people has entrusted the Union Party with, shows how we all fear that this beautiful land of old and new cultures and religions may find itself completely immersed in the violent depravity that we see rising in nations like Malivia. We must push ourselves to swerve from such a false and bloody destiny. I ask for your support in the days and ask to salute our new monarch, King Psamtik-Iyasu, the great ship and personification of this nation. We must unite or die!

Commentators have noted how the suspected Malivian massacre of an estimated 3,000 Esinsundu people has proven a political boon for the Bekele government. Cobura's many ethnic and religious group largely share only one thing - Esinsundu-ism (OOC: Pan-Africanism). Many Coburans have expressed utter horror at the events in Malivia and applauded the government's referral of the issue to the World Congress.


Candlelit vigil in northern Dilginato

This has allowed the Grand Vizier, in one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory, to ram through several reforms aimed at sharply centralising governmental functions Instead of protests by affected groups, candlelight vigil for the Malivian Esinsundu have been held all across the country.

[Reddy]

The Union Dispatch

Royal Coronation

November 4775


The new King

The United Kingdom of Cobura today crowned its first monarch, King Psamtik-Iyasu of the house of Abraha-Saksoure. The 44 year old, in a curious departure from the traditionally lavish ceremony, was crowned in the legislative palace by the Grand Vizier after taking an oath to uphold the (interim) constitution. The new King has largely ceremonial authority though some ambiguous reserve powers exist.

The "showrunner" is the Grand Vizier Yekuno Bekele. A former legal academic who wrote the blieprint for the United Kingdom in his seminal work, "Slashing The Coburan Knot: A Plan For A United and Prosperous Nation." The 48 year old Grand Vizier possesses a fisful of powers with many important appointments in his hands. He has pushed through the centralisation reforms overriding the protests of more catious and locally minded Viziers and junior Ministers.

[Reddy]

The Union Dispatch

Domalan Protests Test Anti-Sectarian Legislation
May 4777

Hundreds of protesters were arrested in Zgmat, Domale following a violent confrontation between Tewahedo Orthodox Mallans and their Terran Patriarchal rivals.. The Ministry of Home Affairs said it had arrested 236 people at the Shrine of Our Lady of Zgmat. The Terran Patriarchal Church and it's Tewahedo Orthodox rival both claim ownership of the site and such confrontations are common, in 4733, four people were killed in a violent confrontation after TPC Shrine visitors insulted the Abuna of the Tewahedo Orthodox Church.

The government's quick response to the disturbance has been praised. The Sharba Telegram noted that "the government has truly legitimised itself in this decisive hand to the face of mob passions." The free speech controversies about the National Harmony Act appear to be melting away along with those about the Grand Vizier's arrogance as Coburans show approval of strong armed tactics to tackle its sectarian nature.

[Reddy]

The Southern Bell

King Assassinated

June 4778

Coburans have been stunned at the news of the assassination of their King Psamtik-Iyasu. The 46 year old monarch's two year reign ended at his royal residence in Sharba. The assassin was one of his bodyguards, a certain Psello Theodoro. He shot the King with his service revolver as the monarch walked in his gardens. Theodoro was found to be a radical Terran Patriarchalist who expressed his loathing of the Government "forcing him to mingle with snake worshippers, Tewahedo fools and Selucian bastards"

Many Coburans have expressed great sorrow at the popular young King's death, none more openly than Grand Vizier Yekuno Bekele who wept publicly at the funeral, proclaiming the late monarch a "martyr for unity and rational government". The King died in the midst of marriage negotiations with a number of countries an unmarried only child leaving the newly reestablished throne vacant. The Council of Viziers declared it's boss Bekele, "Lord Regent" to exercise the royal powers until the matter is decided.

[Zanz]

Elite Jelbék assassination investigation squad's assistance offered to Cobura

[Reddy]

The Union Dispatch

Cobura Accepts Jelbek Offer Of Investigation Help
June 4778

Lord Regent and Grand Vizier Yekuno Bekele surprised many yesterday by extending an official invite to the Jelbék Zvrzdtjogad Grsho (Jelbek Assassination Group) to assist in thorough investigation of the royal assassination of King Psamtik-Iyasu. Lord Bekele responded to an offer of assistance by the Jelbek legislature the Hrltaj A source in his office reveals that he did not discuss the matter with anyone nor reveal his reasons. He saw the report while reading the news and immediately called the Vizier for Foreign Affairs whom he ordered to cable acceptance to the offer despite strenuous objections by advisors and the Foreign Affairs Vizierate.

Many have speculated on his reasons. Could it be some nagging doubts on the identity of the assassin? Suspicion of an uncovered conspiracy? Or perhaps good old politics. A need to keep the "bloody shirt of the assassination" in the public mind? Perhaps just to look so very thorough? A subtle diplomatic outreach to the rising Jelbic Khaganate?