Sohar
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Republic of Sohar Rahelian: جمهورية صحار | |
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 Location of Sohar (dark blue) in Coius (light blue) | |
| Capital and largest city | Tarihi |
| Official languages | Rahelian |
| Ethnic groups (2019) | Rahelian (82%) Anniserian (10%) Atudite (8%) Other (1%) |
| Religion (2019) | Irfan (92%) Atudism (7%) Other (1%) |
| Demonym(s) | Soharan |
| Government | Unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic |
| Hamid el-Bari | |
• Premier | Asmar al-Kaba |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| People's Council | |
| National Assembly | |
| Establishment | |
• Independence from Estmere | 9 September 1948 |
• Admission to the Community of Nations | 14 October 1953 |
• Current Constitution | 15 June 1985 |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,534,132.2 km2 (592,331.8 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 1.2% |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 25,159,042 |
• 2019 census | 24,675,988 |
• Density | 16.4/km2 (42.5/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $373 billion |
• Per capita | $14,864 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $103 billion |
• Per capita | $4,103 |
| Gini (2018) | 51.4 high |
| HDI (2019) | 0.728 high |
| Currency | Soharan Dinar (SHD) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy (AD) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +103 |
| Internet TLD | .sh |
Sohar (Rahelian: صحار), officially the Republic of Sohar (Rahelian: جمهورية صحار), is a country in the Rahelia region of Coius. With a population of over 25 million as of 2021, it is the 15th most populous nation in Coius. Located close to the border between Rahelia and Bahia, it is the northernmost nation on the Coian mainland, and is bordered by the Gulf of Assonaire to the north and east, Nise and Tsabara to the southwest, x to the south, and xx to the east.
Sohar was one of the first areas in Rahelia to be inhabited by humans, with the earliest human settlements in the region dating back X years. In the ninth century BCE, the coastal regions were settled by the !Phonecians, who constructed small settlements and trading posts in the area. The !Phonecians began trading with the First Heavenly Dominion in the first century CE, leading to the Irfanicization of the region. Between the 400s and 1400s, Sohar was controlled by various empires, including the (various dynasties), the Khalij Sultanate, and eventually the Estmerish colonial empire. After a brief Gaullican occupation during the Great War; Estmerish rule was reasserted in 1933, and Sohar would become independent in 1950 under the rule of Sultan Abdelhafid. The Sultan's rule was overthrown in the Soharan Revolution of 1961, leading to the formation of the communist Soharan Council Republic (SCR). The SCR government was unable to assert its legitimacy over the country, leading to a military coup six years later and the establishment of a military dictatorship. Amid an economic crisis and growing public opposition, the military government abdicated in 1985, leading to the democratization of Sohar, though the military continues to have a dominant role in the country's governance.
Since the transition to democracy in 1985, Sohar has generally been one of the more stable nations in Rahelia, despite an ongoing insurgency by the communist Soharan Democratic Liberation Front. It is generally considered a regional power and wields considerable influence in northern Coius. The relative stability of Sohar compared to its neighbors has made it one of the most attractive destinations in Rahelia for migrants, and the 2005-2015 civil war in Nise and the ongoing Tsabaran Civil War have led to a considerable influx of refugees. Sohar's constitution defines it as a unitary semi-presidential republic, though since 1998 it has in practice operated more as a presidential republic, with the premier wielding very little actual power. Though military rule officially ended in 1985, the government remains corrupt and highly authoritarian in nature. The pro-military National Preservation Party has governed Sohar continuously since 1985, and the Soharan Defense Forces continue to dominate Sohar's government and politics. A number of Euclean commentators have described Sohar as a "junta in all but name" and a "southern democracy". Since the discovery of oil and gas reserves in the 1920s, the Soharan economy has largely been dominated by oil and gas exports, though there have been efforts at diversification in recent years. Sohar is one of the most unequal states in the world, with its Gini coefficient of 51.4 being the highest in Rahelia. This is largely due to a persistent wealth gap between the coastal and interior regions of the country.