Garamburan War of Independence

Garamburan War of Independence
Garamburan forces marching through Ntawha after retaking it from veRwizi forces
Date February 16–April 30, 1969 Location Western Garambura and eastern Rwizikuru Result Treaty of Bazadavo Territorial changes Garambura has its independence recognised by the Kingdom of Rwizikuru
Belligerents
Rwizikuru Supported by: Ajahadya Xiaodong	Garambura ERLF Supported by: Template:Country data Estmere Gaullica Halland Mabifia Senria
Commanders and leaders
Izibongo Ngonidzashe Nokutendaishe Dulini Jean-Marie Mombeshora Fred Ngonidzashe Larry Jongwe Farai Mwaruwari	Takakunda Kuda Kani Rukodzi Mutasa Anesu Malianga Khwezi Dalasile Sigqibo Pityana Fezile Maqoma
Strength
130,176 soldiers	119,283 soldiers 31,293 militants
Casualties and losses
29,817 killed 31,928 wounded 9,017 missing or captured	18,712 killed 11,353 wounded 27,161 missing or captured ~7,000 killed, wounded or captured
23,000 veRwizi civilians killed or displaced 119,000 Garamburan civilians killed or displaced

The Garamburan War of Independence (veRwizi: Hondo yeGarambura yeRusununguko; Sisulu: I-Garambura Imfazwe yokuZimela; Gaullican: Guerre d'indépendance de Garambouren), also known as the War of Liberation (veRwizi: Hondo yerusununguko; Sisulu: Imfazwe yenkululeko; Njinji: Nkhondo Yachiwombolo; Gaullican: Guerre de libération) in Garambura was a war fought between the Kingdom of Rwizikuru and the newly-established Republic of Garambura, together with the East Riziland Liberation Front. The war lasted from February 16 to April 30, when the Treaty of Bazadavo was signed that ensured Rwizikuru would recognise Garamburan independence. The war mainly took place near the River Gonda, which served as a strategic barrier for the Garamburans who often counter-attacked using the Gonda as natural cover.

The war took off initially when acting President and historic pro-independence activist Kuziva Midzi proclaimed the Republic of Garambura in his February 16 address in Sainte-Germaine, announcing he would become the acting President of Garambura while Fezile Maqoma would succeed him as the leader of the ERLF. Midzi intended to use the ongoing Mabifian-Rwizikuran War over the region of Yekumavirira as leverage for Garambura to gain more in the conflict, but any plans for this were quickly squandered as Rwizikuru made early advances into Garambura and effectively occupying most of the land south-west of the Gonda, including the town of Ntawha, which would be used as a strategic outpost throughout the war. The Garamburans were slow to respond and the unorganised nature of the militia forces made it difficult to advance into enemy territory.

Before March, Estmere, Gaullica, Djedet, Mabifia, Senria, and Valentir all publicly announced their support for the cause in Garambura, with all except Mabifia sending military supplies to the Garamburan militants, with emphasis on artillery, which would be used to bombard veRwizi positions throughout the war. Xiaodong provided logistical and economic aid to Rwizikuru in retaliation of the Senrian declaration of support for Garambura. The first major breakthrough for either side was scored when the ERLF successfully forced a veRwizi battalion to retreat at the Battle of Tsvangirayi on March 11, however by this time the veRwizi army had conceded defeat in Mabifia, increasing the amount of available manpower but greatly diminishing morale. The ERLF would function as an effective guerrilla force in the northern Gonda Delta, where the veRwizi were kept due to mountainous and densely forested terrain in the north. With daily bombardment from across the Gonda, the veRwizi army was becoming increasingly divided across the Gonda, which allowed the Garamburan army to secure a crucial victory at the Battle of Ntawha on April 19, effectively sealing the war as the veRwizi were quickly pushed back by a major Garamburan offensive between April 21 and 27, by which time the Garamburan forces had entered the Chekumabvazuva district in eastern Rwizikuru. A ceasefire was called on April 27, and the Treaty of Bazadavo was signed three days later in Dezevau, a peace mediator in the conflict, securing veRwizi recognition of a Garamburan state.

The war was devastating for the Gonda delta region and upwards of 400,000 people, both military and civilian, were killed or displaced in the conflict. Cleanup efforts and humanitarian missions in the Gonda delta began almost immediately to help those displaced and to bring the farmland into better condition, which had suffered hugely by constant bombardment. While Garambura was independent by all legal means, it was effectively shunned from Bahia and the Congress of Bahian States by Rwizikuru until Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe succeeded his father in 1979, when the Mambiza Accords were signed, relations normalised and Garambura finally admitted into the CBS after ten years of independence. The war also resulted in Rwizikuru gradually shifting away from Rongzhuo and aligning itself towards the Euclean Community and Senria.