United Bahian Republic
United Bahian Republic | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1960–1969 | |||||||||||||||||
 Coat of arms
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| Anthem: Lève-toi, ô Baïen! Arise, O Bahian!  | |||||||||||||||||
| Location of the United Bahian Republic (1963-1964) Location of the United Bahian Republic (1963-1964) | |||||||||||||||||
| Status | Political union | ||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Girota (1963-1969) Kanyabahayadha (1960-1969) Port Fitzhubert (1960-1964) | ||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | weRwizi, Sisulu, Njinji, Kulo, Maswana, Makai, Badawiyan, Gaullican, Estmerish, Weranian | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Sotirianity Irfan | ||||||||||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Bahian | ||||||||||||||||
| Presidents | |||||||||||||||||
• 1960–1963 | Vudzijena Nhema | ||||||||||||||||
• 1963–1964 | Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima | ||||||||||||||||
• 1964 | Izibongo Ngonidzashe | ||||||||||||||||
• TBD | TBD | ||||||||||||||||
• 1963-1964 | Abner Oronge | ||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Great Game | ||||||||||||||||
• Created | 1 May 1960 | ||||||||||||||||
• Dissolved | 22 January 1969 | ||||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||||
| 1960 | 1,874,449.92 km2 (723,729.16 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1963 | 2,036,142.08 km2 (786,158.85 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1964 | 1,584,683.52 km2 (611,849.73 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||||||
• 1961 | TBD | ||||||||||||||||
| Currency | Mauchan fedha Rwizikuran shilling Yemeti birr | ||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of |  GaramburaFile:RwizikuruFlag.PNG Rwizikuru  Mabifia Maucha Yemet | ||||||||||||||||
The United Bahian Republic was a confederation in Bahia which existed from 1960 to 1969. Comprised of the entirety of present-day Garambura, Maucha, Rwizikuru, and Yemet, as well as parts of present-day Mabifia, the United Bahian Republic was intended as a political union between Maucha and Rwizikuru, with the intention of inviting other Bahian states to join the confederation. Only one state would join the United Bahian Republic after its initial establishment in 1960, the First Federation of Yemet in 1963, although numerous other Bahian states, such as the Mabifian Democratic Republic, expressed interest in joining the United Bahian Republic.
The United Bahian Republic was led by a collective leadership, which between 1963 and 1964, comprised of the President of Maucha, the President of Rwizikuru, and the President of Yemet, with the United Bahian Republic only having responsibilities over foreign affairs, defence, monetary affairs, and the planned capital city, Mukoma (present-day New Mina, Garambura), with the member states being responsible for all other affairs.
Following the 1963 and 1964 military coups in Rwizikuru against the pro-socialist governments of Vudzijena Nhema, and Pierre-Adachir Niyomzima respectively, Rwizikuru would leave the United Bahian Republic in 1964, with the United Bahian Republic facing significant gridlock as the Mauchan and Yemeti governments were unable to cooperate with one another. This led to the United Bahian Republic effectively ceasing to function by mid-1964, but the state still officially continued to exist until it was dissolved in the build-up to the Ibabochian War in January 1969.
History
Establishment
The United Bahian Republic's ideological origins lay within the African socialist current of Pan-Bahianism, which by the mid-1950s became influential as Vudzijena Nhema, the second President of Rwizikuru sought to unite Bahia, believing that "the only viable solution to the problems created by the Euclean-imposed borders is to unite all the countries in Bahia into one."
After his election in 1954 against the governing Movement for the Advancement of Bahians in Riziland, whose candidate, Alistair Perry opposed pan-Bahianism as "weakening the Rwizikuran nation-state," Vudzijena Nhema would embark on the adoption of Bahian socialism, with culminated in 1957 of the seizure of the Rwizikuran section of the Trans-Bahian Railway from the (TBD), which would boost his profile among the Bahian world. At the same time in neighbouring Maucha, (brief overview of Maucha's situation post-independence from Werania).
Thus, in 1958, the United Bahian Republic was first proposed by Vudzijena Nhema, who saw it as a way to eliminate the influence of the white populations (Dietsmen in Maucha and varungu in Rwizikuru) over the broader Bahian economy. This was agreed by the Mauchan government, and over the next two years, negotiations took place over the detail of the United Bahian Republic, and the exact responsibilities the United Bahian Republic would have. It was ultimately decided that the United Bahian Republic would be a confederation with a collective leadership, as it was deemed to protect the interests of the Rwizikuran and Mauchan governments, while ensuring that the United Bahian Republic would be able to function properly.
By early 1960, the Munzwa Declaration was signed and approved by the Mauchan and Rwizikuran governments, which set out the responsibilities of the Republican government (foreign affairs, defence, monetary affairs, and the capital of the United Bahian Republic), compared to the member states within the Republic (all other affairs unmentioned by the Munzwa Declaration), and declared that the United Bahian Republic was to be a confederation under a collective leadership, with the heads of state of the member states being ex officio Presidents of the United Bahian Republic.
Thus, on 1 May, 1960, the United Bahian Republic was officially established in a ceremony at Nambabi, which involved the two leaders officially establishing the United Bahian Republic and inviting "all Bahian states wishing to adopt the principles of the Munzwa Declaration" to join the fledgling polity, before a military parade comprising of the Rwizikuran and Mauchan militaries took place, with soldiers from both countries marching under the flag of the United Bahian Republic to symbolize the unity of two Bahian states under one Bahian nation.
Heyday
The United Bahian Republic faced challenges upon its creation, such as official languages, as the framers of the United Bahian Republic did not want "colonial languages" to be official, and foreign policy issues as certain organisations like the Association of Emerging Socialist Economies and the Community of Nations still had the member states of the United Bahian Republic as individual members, as opposed to them being succeeded by the United Bahian Republic.
Despite these challenges, Rwizikuru and Maucha cooperated to establish the common institutions of the United Bahian Republic, such as uniting the Rwizikuru Navy and the Maucha Navy into the Bahian Navy, establishing a new capital for the United Bahian Republic in Mukoma (present-day New Mina, Garambura), and implementing freedom of movement between its members, in addition to create a fixed exchange rate of 1:1 between the currencies of the two member states, with plans to create a united currency "within the next ten to fifteen years" as the connections between the two states.
By 1962, the United Bahian Republic's institutions as set out by the Munzwa Declaration were firmly established, although as the planned capital city of Mukoma was not yet completed, the institutions of the United Bahian Republic were based in Port Fitzhubert (the capital of Rwizikuru at the time) and Kanyabahayadha (the capital of Maucha). At this point in time, tensions started to emerge between the two sides, as Vudzijena Nhema and the Rwizikurans favoured a centralised United Bahian Republic, while the Mauchans favoured maintaining the confederation as is. Despite these tensions, the United Bahian Republic continued to function smoothly.
In 1963, the Federation of Yemet under Abner Oronge was admitted into the United Bahian Republic as its third member. This decision was made due to dwindling support for Yemet by Werania, a desire to have trained administrators as Yemet lacked qualified administrators, and because of widespread support for Pan-Bahianism among both the Sotirian and Irfanic communities. With Yemet completely liberalising its racial policies, Vudzijena Nhema believed that admitting Yemet would "help boost the profile and stability of the United Bahian Republic."
Demise
As soon as Yemet joined the United Bahian Republic in 1963, concerns began emerging of Yemet's size and influence undermining "the foundations of the United Bahian Republic." The decision to admit Yemet into the United Bahian Republic also coincided with increasing opposition to the Rwizikuran government, as Vudzijena Nhema sought and won a third term in 1962, while growing corruption and stagnant development in Rwizikuru led to the Rwizikuran military to oppose Nhema's government.
Another factor was growing disputes between the three members: Maucha and Yemet disputed the Ibabochian Panhandle, which under Gaullican rule was part of the colony of Haute-Gond, but in the post-Great War period was transferred to the Weranian colony of Silberküste. In addition, Mauchans argued that as many ethnic groups in what was then East Rwizikuru (present-day Garambura) crossed borders with Maucha, the borders should be redrawn so that ethnic groups are all on one side of the boundary or another, while the Rwizikuran government sought to maintain borders under the concept of uti possidetis juris, as it feared that altering borders would weaken Rwizikuru's legitimacy in not just the remaining territories in East Riziland but also in Yekumavirira.
Thus, in November 1963, a coup d'etat deposed Vudzijena Nhema while he was attending an AESE conference. The military installed Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima, since per the Rwizikuran constitution, the Vice-President was next in line to succeed the President. However, when in January 1964, Niyonzima rejected a request from the military to "withdraw Rwizikuru from the United Bahian Republic without delays," a second coup d'etat deposed Niyonzima and established a military junta, the National Salvation Council, led by Izibongo Ngonidzashe.
Rwizikuru would unilaterally withdraw "completely" from the United Bahian Republic on 22 January, 1964, leaving only Maucha and Yemet as members within the United Bahian Republic. Rwizikuru's departure would lead to the United Bahian Republic ceasing to function as a unified entity, as the two governments remaining in the confederation did not get along, as a result of the dispute over the Ibabochian Panhandle, and religious differences, with Yemet's Irfanic majority feeling "chained" to the Sotirian-majority United Bahian Republic. However, it would still officially exist until 22 January, 1969, when the union collapsed in the build-up to the Ibabochian War between Maucha and Yemet.
Government
The United Bahian Republic was headed by a collective leadership, with the Presidents of the United Bahian Republic being designated as such due to their positions as being the country's leaders. This was organised so that no one person had too much power within the United Bahian Republic.
The legislature of the United Bahian Republic was the Bahian Assembly, comprising of 100 members. They had the power to legislate over the issues of foreign affairs, defence, and monetary affairs, as well as pass budgets for the operation of the government of the United Bahian Republic.
The institutions of the United Bahian Republic were located in the capital cities of its member states, albeit there were plans to make Mukoma (present-day New Mina, Garambura) the capital of the United Bahian Republic. While institutions were moving to Mukoma at the time of the United Bahian Republic's dissolution in January 1964, the dissolution meant that Mukoma never properly functioned as its capital.
Politically, the United Bahian Republic was meant to be a confederation, according to the Munzwa Declaration, with the federal government only having jurisdiction over foreign affairs, defence, and monetary affairs, and its member states maintaining sovereignty over all other affairs, with the exception of Mukoma, where it was to be under the direct control of the government of the United Bahian Republic.
Foreign relations
While the government of the United Bahian Republic officially had jurisdiction over foreign affairs, during its existence, organisations across the world had varying policies, with some, such as the Association of Emerging Socialist Economies only having member states of the United Bahian Republic as members, while others, such as the Congress of Bahian States had the United Bahian Republic as a member, with no representation from the member states.
The continued participation of member states of the United Bahian Republic in certain organisations, namely the AESE and the Community of Nations would be an issue for the United Bahian Republic, as supporters of the United Bahian Republic believed it was necessary for the United Bahian Republic to speak "with one voice" as oppose to two, while opponents felt that having the United Bahian Republic represent them harmed their own interests.
Member states
During its existence, the United Bahian Republic comprised of two member states from May 1954 until TBD, 1963, and then three member states until its dissolution in January 1964.
| Nation | Capital | Population (1961) | GDP (1961) | GDP per capita (1961) | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maucha |
Kanyabahayadha | 11,864,556 | $10,037,414,376 | $846 | 1960-1969 |
| File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG Rwizikuru | Port Fitzhubert | 16,120,793 | $5,142,532,967 | $319 | 1960-1964 |
| Yemet |
Girota | 16,275,106 | $2,766,768,020 | $170 | 1963-1969 |
Prospective members
During the existence of the United Bahian Republic, some countries in Bahia expressed their interest in joining the United Bahian Republic. However, due to various reasons, the United Bahian Republic would not expand beyond its two initial members and the Federation of Yemet.
Mabifia
Under the leadership of Louis-Philippe Giengs, Mabifia emerged from its civil war as the Mabifian Democratic Republic, a socialist state which leant strongly into the Pan-Bahian movement. The idea of joining the United Bahian Republic was proposed and ascension talks were opened in 1945 once the domestic situation was secured. Giengs was a close friend of , as the two of them had met in several anticolonial circles before independence. Economic correspondance between the Bahian states increased, with Mabifia seeming poised to join. However, in 1950, Giengs passed away suddenly from a heart attack, putting a pause on Mabifia's goals of joining the organisation.
Giengs' successor was Pierre-Julien Onziema, a colonel in the Mabifian People's Armed Forces who had been radicalised whilst in Euclea as an officer in the colonial militia. Unlike Giengs, who was inspired by the idea of a Pan-Bahian socialism which was at least in part inspired by local traditions of government such as Sare, Onziema was highly dogmatic in his support of Kirenian council communism and saw it as being the ultimate goal of society. He was unwilling to adopt the more revisionist elements proposed by the other states. However, there were other background reasons for Onziema's unwillingness to join the union. His personal leadership style was highly self-centred, causing opposition to the idea of ceding partial control over the armed forces which he had served in to others. Another issue came from historical precedent. Rwizikuru, as the veRwizi Empire, had been the major rivals to the Mabifian Kingdom of Kambou and while these states had all been dissolved there still existed strongly held attitudes among many in the armed forces that these states constituted rivals. The use of the veRwizi Bird in the United Bahian Republic's coat of arms further encouraged such thoughts. Tensions grew between Mabifia and Rwizikuru, which was the most strongly revisionist state in the union, leading to a rivalry which put a definitive stop to any hopes of joining the United Bahian Republic and which would eventually lead to the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War.