Lyoan Civil War

Lyoan Civil War
(clockwise from top left) Revolutionary United Forces rebels fighting during the Battle of Tigera. Nationalist Front rebel fighters in combat. LNDF soldiers in Timbao. LNDF soldiers patrolling the bush.
Date August 10, 1998-July 18, 2003 (4 years, 11 months, 9 days) Location Lyoa Result Revolutionary United Front and allies victory Overthrow of the government of Laurent Tulossa. Installation of Marcil Yantanda as president. Signing of the Orléans Peace Accords. Rebel groups become political parties. Beginning of the conflicts in eastern and northern Lyoa.
Belligerents
Lyoa Lyoa National Defense Forces Paleocacherian mercenaries Tulossa loyalists (from 2002)	Revolutionary United Forces Paleocacherian mercenaries	Nationalist Front Xussman mercenaries Supported by: Xusma	Democratic Army of Lyoa Paleocacherian mercenaries Xussman mercenaries
Commanders and leaders
Laurent Tulossa	Marcil Yantanda Kemoh Foday	Emmerson Mponda Joshua Pierre Hagando	Thomas Radinka
Strength
~90,000 (1998)	~30,000 (1999)	~28,000 (1999)	~25,000 (1998)
Casualties and losses
Between 60,000-350,000 killed 1+ million displaced

The Lyoan Civil War (1998-2003) was a major civil war in Lyoa that began on 10 August 1998 when military defectors formed the Democratic Army of Lyoa to overthrow the government of Laurent Tulossa. The war lasted for over 4 years, and ended with the signing of the Orléans Peace Accords in August 2003. By the conflict's end, well over 60,000 had been left dead. Hostilities have continued since the Eastern and Northern conflicts.

The conflict saw the rise of three major rebel armies, who were all at odds with each other in addition to the government. The first of these rebel movements was the Democratic Army of Lyoa, which began the civil war. Shortly after, the Nationalist Front and Revolutionary United Forces arose and began challenging the government and Democratic Army. By 2000, the government only held 1/4 of the country, although control was limited outside of major cities.

In late 2002, the Revolutionary United Forces closed in on Tigera and managed to take the city, ending the government of Tulossa, who had already fled the country. Conflict between rebel groups continued until August 2003, when a peace accord was finalized in Orléans, Quebecshire. The agreement set up democratic elections, and integrated the rebel groups as political parties, and integrated their soldiers to the military.

Causes of the War

Politics

Laurent Tulossa became president of Lyoa in 1979, following a coup d'état that ousted the government of James Sharokkoh, which was widely regarded as incompetent. Tulossa's coup was originally seen as a positive, as Lyoa's economy began to improve, as well as general living conditions in the country. This era, known as "Tulossa's Golden Age" lasted until 1990.

Following the end of the "Golden Age", Tulossa's administration was heavily criticized by Lyoans, who had believed that Tulossa would implement democracy. Instead, the government became increasingly totalitarian, with many old state institutions being abolished, and more power being given to Tulossa and the executive branch. The government began to suppress criticism, and arrested many opposition leaders, causing widespread protests and a significant drop in Tulossa's popularity by 1996.

Resources

The Eastern and Northern regions of Lyoa, where the conflict began, are rich in natural resources. These include diamonds, gold, uranium, and coltan. Control of these resources is what has allowed Lyoa to prosper in the past, able to effectively control the extraction and exportation of them. This has caused severe tensions; however, as local leaders and civilians wish for greater control over resources in their areas, and some wish for total control over mining. This fueled the Lyoan Civil War as it became a profitable endeavor to fight for control over mining areas.