Calejo Crisis

Calejo Crisis
Destroyed tanks outside the remains of Camp Santiago
Date 29 September – 20 November 2022 (1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day) Location Calejo Result Democratic Alliance/Foreign Coalition victory Removal of President Valentín Elizondo and his Cabinet from power Arrest of Valentín Elizondo Assumption of power by Interim President Raúl Hidalgo, rebuilding of the nation
Belligerents
Free Calejo Free Calejo Forces Espinoza State Police Molina State Police Informal local militias Ibica Pherigo Template:Country data Hintuwan	Calejo Calejo Marines Calejo Army Cartels
Strength
200,000 volunteers by war's end International Forces: Numerous air and maritime forces	98,200 soldiers & militiamen
Casualties and losses
15,383 killed	42,938 soldiers killed or deserted
Total casualties (including civilians): 9,400–25,000 killed 4,000 missing 50,000 wounded

The Calejo Crisis was an armed conflict in 2022 in the Ibican country of Calejo which was fought between forces which were loyal to President Valentin Elizondo and rebel groups that were seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by government security forces blocking public access to voting locations during an election that the incumbent government was predicted to lose. The government claimed there was a grand conspiricy of the opposition to rig elections in their favor. Many members of the MOPOCA and Socialdemocratica parties were arrested. Speaker of the House of Delegates, Raúl Hidalgo, managed to escape the country with the help of the Ibican government to rally public support from abroad.

On September 29th, Espinoza State Police attemped to arrest Calejo Marines that were blocking access to a polling location for election interference, and the marines openned fire on the police officers. The next morning, during a televised address, President Elizondo declared the state governments that were hostile towards his government's actions to be enemy's of the state. The same day, a hit squad of federal marines was sent after the Espinoza state governor.

After months of fighting, on November 13th, foreign and militia forces had recaptured the national capitol, and the Congress was able to meet together to official impeach and remove President Elizondo. One week later, the last holdouts of Elizondo's forces surrendered the city of Toledo to Coalition forces.

Background

Leadership

Frente Calejo had historically dominated Calejo's politics from 1944 to the 1980's, originally seizing power in a military backed coup in 1944. The party gained legitimacy by spuring growth in Calejo's economy, bringing its economy up to par with neighboring Ibica and Pherigo. Sham elections in the 1970's led to near revolt after a blatantly rigged election in 1980 kept Frente Calejo in power. State governments threatened secession if there was fraud in the next elections. These fair-er elections saw Frente Calejo lose majorly in 1986. It wasn't until a faltering economy in late 2010's brought Frente Calejo back to the spotlight, promising the same miracle they did in the 1960's.

Except, this economic miracle never materialized. The economy got worse, and more people turned to crime to provide for their families. This led to an increase in the influence of cartels around the country.

Leadup

In the weeks leading up to the 2022 elections, the government began to slander opposition politicians. One such case is the arrest of Ernesto Echevarría, which the Elizondo government claimed was tied to an Ibican investigation into cross border smuggling. Ibican authorities have stressed that this was not the case, and that their investigation actually implicated Frente Calejo politicians. At this point in time, the government had not much restricted access to the wider internet, so public opinion quickly shifted against the government.

In response to this growing anti government sentiment, the government arrested several more members of Partido Socialdemocratica and MOPACA on September 24th. At this time Raúl Hidalgo managed to escape the country with the help of the Ibican Embassy. After this, state media reported began contradicting itself, claiming the mass arrest of lawmakers, which they had reported, was actually just misinformation from foreign media. An article in the Calejo City Newswire that made this claim on September 27th seems to be the last straw, with protests breaking out in Calejo City and Ciudad Valencia.

By the next day, protests had expanded, and soldiers had been sent to block access to polling stations. In Valencia, one woman that tried to vote was beaten by soldiers, only to have Molina State Police officers attempt to order the soldiers to stop, and arrest them. This devolved into a short stand off, before the officers retreated back into the crowd of protesters with the woman to attempt to render aid. She unfortunately sucumbed to her injuries in the hospital, being considered the first causalty of the conflict.

The morning of September 29th, a similar encounter between soldiers blocking access to voters and Espinoza State Police officers turned violent

Course of the war

First weeks

By Saptember 30th, most state and local elected officials, other than in the state of San Brasillo, had annouced their opposition to the federal government, and shots had been fired between Calejo Marines and Espinoza State Police. As Espinoza had been most vocal in their opposition, Marines were sent to arrest the governor. The Marines then killed the four state police officers covering the governor's escape.

On the night of the 30th, Cartago Cartel soldiers, paid off by Frente officials, attacked the Ibican side of the Gillett San Ygnacio Border Crossing, with the intent to distract Ibican troops with retaliating against the cartel so they wouldn't focus their efforts on federal forces.

On October 1st, Ibican troops crossed the Allende Jefferson Border Crossing into Espinoza, marching on Cuidad Victoria to meet up with state forces.

On October 3rd, militants working with the government 2022 Valencia Consulate Seige in Ciudad Valenicia, killing many foreign security and diplomatic personnel, including the Ibican Consul to the city.