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 (60%) Amazigh (26%) Anniserian (8%) Atudite (5%) Other (1%) |
| Religion (2019) | Irfan (95%) Atudism (4%) Other (1%) |
| Demonym(s) | Soharan |
| Government | Unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic |
| Umar al-Abadi | |
• 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 | 40,159,042 |
• 2019 census | 38,753,475 |
• Density | 26.2/km2 (67.9/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $596 billion |
• Per capita | $14,864 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $164 billion |
• Per capita | $4,103 |
| Gini (2018) | 32.4 medium |
| 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 on the Erythrean Coast of northern Rahelia With a population of over 40 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, Nise and Tsabara to the southwest, Behera 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 to the Neolithic. The earliest inhabitants of the region were Amazighs who settled in the interior, while Demiscians began to establish city-states on the coast of Sohar in the 1100s BCE. The most powerful of these city-states was Ahiram, which emerged as a major mercantile and naval power, dominating trade in the Gulf of Assonaire. Beginning in the third century BCE, Irfan began to spread into the region, culminating in the destruction of Ahiram by the Second Heavenly Dominion in 103 CE. As the Second Heavenly Dominion's influence in Sohar began to wane in the 10th century, Amazigh leaders in the interior began to increase theirs. By the 1000s, Sohar was dominated by two large Amazigh states: the Ammarid Dynasty in the north and the Muharamite Confederation in the south. During the Middle Ages, northern Sohar saw the rise and fall of several notable Irfanic dynasties, the most notable being the Basharids, Rahamids, and Awanites. Meanwhile, southern Sohar was dominated by Beheran states, notably the Amassinids and Usemids.
Piracy became a major problem during this time, and rampant attacks on Euclean merchant vessels and even raids on Euclean ports, culminating in the Sacking of Precea in 1803, led to the Erythraean War of 1805-1809 between the Erythrean states and an alliance of Euclean nations. This marked the beginning of Estmerish expansion into northern Rahelia, culminating in the establishment of the Protectorate of Sohar in 1903, after a failed anti-Estmere uprising resulted in Sohar being placed under direct Estmerish rule. Nationalist sentiment led Estmere to grant Sohar independence as the Sultanate of Sohar in 1948. Opposition to continued Estmerish influence in Sohar manifested itself in the form of a communist revolution in 1951. The communist government's inability to maintain stability led to a military coup led by General Mazeed el-Farran. Discontent with Farran's authoritarian rule began to grow following Sohar's defeat by Nise in the Anniserian War of 1963-1967, resulting in the 1976 coup led by the anticommunist Free Officers Movement and the establishment of a military junta headed by Umar al-Abadi. Although military rule ended in 1985, al-Abadi remains Sohar's president and the country remains highly authoritarian.
Since the end of military rule in 1985, Sohar has generally been one of the more stable nations in Rahelia, despite an insurgency by the communist Soharan Democratic Liberation Front in the south of the country that has been ongoing since 1977. 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. While one-pary rule officially ended in 1985 with the adoption of a new constitution the government highly authoritarian and dominated by a small elite composed of military leaders and allies of President Umar-al Abadi. This has led many to describe Sohar as a southern democracy or an authoritarian regime. Sohar is strongly allied with Zorasan and Shangea, and holds observer status in ROSPO. 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. Like all internationally recognized states, Sohar holds membership in the Community of Nations, as well as the Bank for United Development, and the Irfanic Cooperative Conference.