Talmoria

[Polites]

Talmoria folds
Talmoria becomes Indralan tributary


Nobles debating Indralan terms

April 3930 - The Talmorian monarchy, having tried all means at its disposal to ensure its full independence, especially by promoting economic development via both indigenous and foreign growth, has been forced to face the hard reality of South Dovani's power relations. In the absence of a strong foreign backer and with the regime's legitimacy questioned internally by both radical Ahmadist rebels and traditional aristocrats who dislike the dynasty's commoner origins, the Kingdom ultimatelly had to accept the Indralan offer of a "special relationship". Trading some of Talmoria's external autonomy for Indralan protection, the Indralan-Talmorian Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Assistance recognizes the reality, uncomfortable to Asli nationalists and Ahmadis, that Talmoria and all of South Dovani is firmly within the Indralan sphere of influence.

Nonetheless, however decried tributary status is with the oposition, the treaty entails major advantages for Talmoria. The government now has full international support from one of Terra's great powers, and can now benefit from Indralan military assistance against its lingering Ahmadi rebellion. Moreover, the young Sidibé dynasty can rely on its suzerain's backing in restoring order and good governance to a nation so often plagued by ethnic and religious strife, with otherwise minimal foreign involvement in Talmoria's internal affairs. And lastly Talmorian religious leaders have expressed hope that under this new arrangement King Mohammed can use his status as Naasiru Deen (Nasir al-Din) to persuade Indrala to reassess her attitude towards foreign faiths, particularly Ahmadism.

[Reddy]

Gbara Deposes King
September 7, 3933

Talmoria’s legislature the Gbara (Great Assembly) has decided to oust King Mohammed I Sidibé. The King’s eleven year reign comes to an end after charges of corruption and abuse of power were brought to the Gbara. The King appears to have accepted his fate and announced that he will abdicate in the coming days. The Gbara has formally declared its intention to choose a new King. Several Farins (Ministers) in the Cabinet have also resigned, damaging public confidence in the ministry.


Hive of intrigue - The Gbara

These developments have left Talmoria shocked and puzzled. In a country which has known mostly chaos and violence in recent decades, why would the Gbara kick out a relatively effective King who has managed to rule quite decently and most regard the charges as the political equivalent of ‘deposing a monarch for a parking ticket. The King is accused of misappropriating a relatively small amount of funds and furthermore, the Gbara has refused to publicise any evidence.


Vacant: the Talmorian throne

Conspiracy theorists and speculators have jumped to work. Who is behind the ouster of the monarch? Why has the King’s eldest daughter Lady Musukebba of Cobura, after five years in Cobura, landed with heavy luggage in Lesako (the capital) just a day after her father was deposed, with her little son Prince Pterou in tow? Do the shiny new cars and luxurious mansions that many members of the Gbara are spotting have anything to do with this political development? Speculation and fear that Ahmadist rebels might take advantage of this development has gripped the kingdom.

[Reddy]

Coburan Prince Appointed King of Talmoria
May 14, 3934


King Mohammed II Saksoure

In a surprise to Talmoria, Dovani and all of Terra, the Gbara(Great Assembly) has appointed the Coburan grandson of the deposed Mohamed I as the new King of Talmoria. The new King is Prince Pterou the four year old son of the Lord of Cobura and Mohammed I’s daughter Lady Musukebba. He will take the throne name 'Mohammed II'.The boy’s ambitious mother spent months lobbying members of the Gbara to choose her son and has been accused of have taken part in the intrigues which led to her father’s fall. This is the third kingdom which has fallen into the hands of the increasingly powerful House of Saksoure, following Ibutho and the native Cobura of course.


Queen Regent Musukebba

The Gbara has rewarded all of Lady Musukebba's efforts by appointing her Queen-Regent. In that capacity, she should govern the Kingdom for the next fourteen years till the King reaches his majority. It will not be an easy task, the Queen Regent and her Farins(Ministers) faces a mountain of challenges. The Ahmadi insurgency continues, emboldened by the recent political crisis. The task of keeping the Indralans happy remains while balancing that with driving Abansundu unionism through strong ties with the King’s fatherlands, Cobura and Ibutho.

And perhaps the greatest challenge is the assertive Gbara, which after ousting a King, is getting all sorts of magnified ideas about its role in politics. Perhaps it is realising all this which has led the 29 year old Queen Regent to appoint herself Great Farin (chief minister) and exercise the duties of the head of government herself. She has also appointed new Ministers, largely unconnected to the previous regime nor the Gbara. "There's a general sense of amateurism here in Lesako. Everyone is relatively inexperienced, particularly on the executive side and with the grave circumstances the Kingdom is in, this could lead to disaster", a senior Majatran diplomat said, reflecting general sentiment in the diplomatic corps.

[Reddy]

Queen Regent Dissolves Gbara
March 2, 3937

It has been reported in the past few hours that the 6th Brigade of the Talmorian Royal Army has occupied the Palace of the Gbara. The 6th Brigade is said to have marched into the palace courtyard with Queen Regent Musukebba at its head and as it occupied the legislative palace, the Queen Regent walked up to the podium of the Gbara, snatched a copy of the motion to depose King Mohammed II and tore it with her hands while condemning the Gbara for ‘high treason.’ The Queen held up documents which she claimed proved that several members of the Gbara had been receiving bribes from the Ahmadi insurgents in the south. She announced that the Crown would dissolve the Gbara until further notice.


Supreme: The Queen Regent

Given how the Queen Regent’s government and the Gbara have sparred over the past few years, it is unlikely that she will allow it to assemble once again any time soon. She has said she will assembly a 77 member ‘Royal Council’ in the place of the Gbara with representatives from trade unions, commerce, universities, military, minorities and other interest groups. The Queen’s generals are said to be hugely relieved that her purge of the Gbara has been a success, believing that now that she is all powerful, she will now focus the nation’s energy on tackling Ahmadi extremists in the far south.

[Reddy]

Queen Regent Appoints Postwar Government
September 14, 3938

Following the signing of a peace agreement in Minbuto between the Kingdom and Ahmadi militants on November 10, 3937, Queen Regent Musukebba Sidibe has inaugurated a new unity government with three Ahmadist aligned Farins (Ministers)The notorious head of the Army of the Black Crescent ‘Green Hamid’ Keita has been appointed Agriculture Minister while Sheikh Yaw Konate, the ‘court philosopher’ of the militant movement was appointed Education Minister and his chief lieutenant Ikililou Mwinyi will serve as Minister of Environment and Tourism.

The main priority of the new Government will be implementing the terms of the Minbuto agreement. The Army of the Black Crescent is to be integrated into the Royal Talmorian Army. Restrictions on religious schools are to be loosened a bit while greater investment will be directed to the far southern regions. Ethnic and religious minorities have greeted this development with considerable skepticism, shared with senior officers of the Royal Talmorian Army (RTA). The RTA lost thousands of its members in the seven decade conflict and remain highly suspicious of the militants' true reasons for agreeing to the peace.

[Reddy]

The Return of the King
March 13, 3946

King Mohammed Saksoure of Talmoria has returned home to the Sanulama Palace after finishing his year long initiation process, emerging as an adult in Asli customary law. The 16 year old monarch spent a year in a secluded forest compound with several other youths of his age under the guidance of Asli elders. The rites of passage included teachings about Asli manhood, history and the mysteries of the Asli traditional faith. Like many of his subjects, the King is to observe both Ahmadi and traditional Asli religious elements. The King was welcomed home by his court in a great ceremony with several courtiers prostrating themselves before him.


King Mohammed II

Having completed this, the King is now regarded as a full grown man under Asli customary law. Under Talmorian law however, he’s still two years short of his legal majority and the rule of the country remains in the hands of his mother, the Queen Regent Musukebba Sidibe. For now the King is to look forward to a tour of his family’s kingdoms, Cobura and Ibutho later this year. In 3948 he is expected to only formally assume power as he has plans to attend an elite military college in Cobura and will likely assume full power in Talmoria at the age of 22 in 3952.

[Reddy]

King Takes Over Government
October 24, 3952

KIng Mohammed II Saksoure has been formally invested with full royal authority over his kingdom. The 22 year old monarch received the official seal and other symbols of state from his mother Queen Musukebba who retired after ruling the country as Regent, Great Farin (chief minister) and caretaker since 3934. M<ohammed II technically took over in 3948 upon turning 18 but his education at Sharba Military Academy in Cobura necessitated the appointment of a caretaker, his mother.


King Mohammed II

Queen Musukebba's tenure was marked by considerable stability especially since the end of the Ahmadi insurgency in 3937. There has been great economic and social stagnation however as the Queen's government suppressed dissent and power was centralised in her hands, with many local and independent institutions muzzled, suspended or just abolished. A great desire for change is in the air and the young King, many hope, will bring some of those infamously liberal Coburan values to Talmoria.

One of the King's first tasks is to lead thousands of his countrymen pilgrims to the Ahmadi holy sites in Majatra. This is one of a Talmoria King's most sacred duties and one he carries out yearly. hitherto, the King's maternal uncle Prince Sekou Sidibe carried out this duty on his behalf on account of his youth. The second task is to find a suitable bride, for in Asli culture, a man is not regarded as fully mature until he is married.

[Reddy]

King Begins Reforms
October 12, 3855

King Mohammed II has appointed a ‘Constitutional Reform Commission’ to consider the pace and content of planned constitutional reforms. The King has acknowledged in the past that Talmoria’s current constitution is ‘simply unsustainable and a recipe for trouble and great dissent.’ Mohammed II said he wants a Constitution that respect the people’s traditions, allows for ‘vigorous national debate’ and at the same time, does not endanger the integrity of the Talmorian state.


Dr. Hermann Diallo

The King appointed his Great Farin (Chief minister) Dr Hermann Diallo as Chairperson of the Commission. Dr. Diallo has served as Great Farin since November 3952 and previously served as the King's tutor on constitutional law. The retired constitutional law academic is with his six fellow members, to begin an unprecedented consultation process all across the Kingdom, with different ethnicities, tribes and geographical territories participating. The King has granted them 18 months to carry out this task, vowing to design a new Constitution based on the findings, not his personal views.

[Reddy]

King: 'Free Elections by 3960'
November 12, 3957

Continuing in his reformist path, King Mohammed II has promised that his government will organise free national, provincial and local elections by 3960. The Royal Council is presently adopting into law, several proposals made by the public during the constitutional consultation process. The people asked for a limited monarchy, 'respect for religious and traditional values' and decentralisation. The king kept his promise and accepted the proposals, forwarding them to the Royal Council. Several royalist leaders have agreed to form a new political alliance to stand in the elections, uniting monarchists, moderate Ahmadists and a large of ethnic minorities among other groups.

Many in the Talmorian ruling circles are very uneasy about the entire process. One of the King's trusted advisors Adm. Modibo Sissoko resigned abruptly in protest, warning the monarch to be careful as the Ahmadist movements are highly motivated due to what many Talmorians perceive to be Chann oppression in the holy lands of Kafuristan. A number of pilgrims to the holy city of Helem claimed to have been harassed by Chann security forces, a claim that remains unverified. Regardless of the truth, there is great antipathy against the very idea of the holy places being under the rule of non-Ahmadis. Prominent Ahmadists in the ruling coalition have taken a hard line on the Chann Republic and have called on the King to make 'visible protests at Chann injustice and tyranny'.

[Reddy]

Political Crisis in Talmoria
April 11, 3959

Talmoria's first free election since the 3920's has sparked a dramatic constitutional crisis. The election saw the 'mildly Ahmadist' Justice and Freedom Party win an absolute majority (81 out of 150 seats) within the eight party alliance the National Union. The margin of victory is believed to have been boosted by the party's emphasis on the Kafuri situation, with Konate cleverly weaving the 'Gao-Showan tyranny' in Kafuristan with Talmoria's vassal status to Indrala as proof of Gao Showan antipathy and malice to Ahmadi countries in general. Konate's campaign took on a populist turn when he described Gao-Showans as 'worse than even cat worshipers, or the domestic Kalkali economic leeches who impoverish us all.'

The stunning victory led to the party's leader Sheikh Yaw Konate declaring his intention to form a single party government. Sheikh Konate was previously a high ranking member of the rebel Green Crescent movement and has served as Minister of Education for the past two decades, his supporters claim that he has given up his dream of an Ahmadi state, others are more sceptical. Several minority community leaders denounced Konate's vicious verbal attacks on them.


Sheikh Yaw Konate

It is following Konate's victory that leaders of the Talmorian Royal Army stepped in and declared their own intention to 'defend the country from radicalism and religious tyranny headed by a criminal.' Army Chief of Staff Gen. Idris Cassama has ordered the 1st Armoured Brigade to occupy Djata House, the official residence of the Great Farin (Chief Minister) and the 4th Infantry Brigade to prevent any of the Ahmadist legislators from being sworn in the Gbara. The military movements continue across the country Gen. Cassama's actions have sparked a constitutional crisis as they were carried without with the sanction of the King, who is yet to respond to the developing crisis.