Beldonian Civil War

Beldonian Civil War
File:Beldonia War Tank.jpg National Liberation Army forces patrol the beaches west of Varita City
Date 16 January 2015 – 4 December 2018 Location West Beldonia Result Republican Victory The Black Winds defeated Creation of the Second Republic
Belligerents
Republicans Template:Country data West Beldonia West Beldonia Template:Country data National Liberation Army of Beldonia National Liberation Army Template:Country data Saphiro Free Saphiro Army Foreign Support (Militarily): Foreign Support (Non-Militarily): Aziallis Neuewland Astariax Albithica	Nationalists Template:Country data Black Winds Black Winds Foreign Support (Militarily): Sacrofnia Foreign Support (Non-Militarily): Wolfgalia Nerany
Commanders and leaders
Template:Country data National Liberation Army of BeldoniaSebastian Moreau (Chairman of the N.L.A.) Template:Country data National Liberation Army of BeldoniaNathaniel Callaghan (Commander of the N.L.A.) Template:Country data West BeldoniaSpencer Saleah  (President of West Beldonia) Template:Country data SaphiroAmanda Devilo (Head of the F.S.A.) Template:Country data NinalsDavid Impson (Commander of the Ninalsian Intervention Force)	Template:Country data Black WindsAlexander Gutar  (Head of the Black Winds) Template:Country data Black WindsJoseph Calsinta Kirt (General of the Army) Ronald Scoftar (Head of the Sacrofnianos intervention force)
Strength
~50,000 soldiers ~2,000 Ninalsians soldiers	~31,000 soldiers 5,200 Sacrofnian volunteers
Casualties and losses
11,000+ killed	18,000+ killed
Total deaths: 30,000 Violent Deaths 70,000+ Civilian Deaths 400,000 displaced

The Beldonian Civil War, also known as the War of the Black Winds, was an armed conflict in the country of West Beldonia between the forces supporting the West Beldonian Government, led by The National Liberation Army, and The Black Winds, as well as their respective foreign allies. It is the single bloodiest conflict in Beldonian history, with an estimated 100,000 deaths, more than 1% of the countries population, and another 400,000 displaced.

The war was a direct result of The Black Winds coup d'état on January 6th, 2015, that saw the collapse of the Beldonian Republic and the creation of a neo-fascist military dictatorship, under their leader Alexander Gutar. Though they succeeded in taking control of the capital of Saint Maria, many provinces refused to acknowledge the new government. On January 8th, leaders from these provinces met in Calinta and formed the New National Liberation Army (N.L.A.), based on the organization that had overthrown the monarchy in 1962, with the expressed purpose being to overthrow The Black Winds. Fighting broke out between the two factions on January 16th, when forces of The Black Winds marched north from Saint Maria towards Calinta.

The war would remain largely a stalemate for 2 and a half years, with The Black Winds failing to take the Republican capital of Calinta, and the N.L.A. failing to advance on Saint Maria. The situation changed in November of 2017, when the N.L.A., with the support of the Free Saphiro Army, began a massive offensive that led to a collapse in The Black Winds forces, who had been weakened by a lack of cooperation between the government and the military. Saint Maria would be liberated on New Years day of 2018, and Varita City on June 17th. By October, the remaining Black Winds forces had been driven into the forests of the south of the island, and peace talks were in the works. Gutar, however, refused to accept peace, stating he "would fight until every one of us are dead." The Black Winds military commander Joseph Kirt, in an attempt to secure peace, handed Alexander Gutar over to N.L.A. forces, then fled to exile in Sacrofnia. Fighting officially ended on December 4th, 2018, when the remaining Black Winds forces officially surrendered.

Numerous observers noted The Black Winds numerous human rights abuses in their attempts to gain control of the nation, which include the use of use of chemical weapons, mass executions, and organized purges of Republican supporters.

Prelude to War

Economic Crisis

The war is often seen as a direct result of the 2013 economic recession. The recession caused a massive amount of hyperinflation, causing a massive rise in food and housing prices, as well as the unemployment of thousands of Beldonians. Cities quickly became crowded with tents, and thousands would wait in line for hours just to get enough food to survive. Calls for government intervention in the situation, specifically through more spending and less dependence on foreign-owned industry, as almost 50% of the countries industry being owned by foreign countries or companies, were widespread across the nation. The Conservative Party President Johnathan Crane believed government intervention would only cause a dependence on welfare, and so instead created programs to encourage people to "work harder" and for the rich to donate to the poor, moves that proved ineffective. The situation was made much worse in early 2014, when a corruption scandal over foreign business paying off government officials saw the impeachment of Johnathan crane and most of his cabinet. According to the constitution, the Parliament was supposed to nominate a new president to serve until the 2017 elections with at least a 50% majority, but the divided Parliament couldn't choose a new president, so instead the powers of the Presidency were given to the Parliament until a new "emergency election" could be held.

Emergency Election

The "emergency election" was scheduled to be held in November of 2014. Parliamentary rule until then proved even more ineffective than the government before, and the economic situation only got worse. To many, this showcase of the ineffective government and the scandal was a sign that the country was actually under the control of foreign powers, and so nationalist sentiment grew. In June of 2014, Alexander Gutar announced his decision to run in the emergency election under the Nationalist Party. Despite Gutar's openly stating he supported a dictatorship and military rule, he was highly popular for his belief in a Pan-Beldonian state and the end of foreign influence in West Beldonia, specifically influence from Aziallis. A week before the election, polls found him winning by a 42% of the vote, compared to Liberal nominee Spencer Saleah's 37% of the vote. Liberal and Conservative leaders, who had been the two most popular parties before the election, formed a coalition to ensure a Nationalist failure, a coalition many critics called anti-democratic. The day after the election, it was announced Gutar had lost, with 44% of the vote going to him and 46% of the vote going to Spencer Saleah. Outrage across the nation broke out, with riots and fighting on the streets between Republic and Nationalist supporters.

Black Winds Coup

On December 25th, a week before Spencer Saleah was scheduled to be sworn into office, a unanimous news broadcast announced the foundation of The Black Winds, a nationalist militant organization with the goal of creating a Military Dictatorship, which supposedly included many government officials. The broadcast warned that if Saleah was sworn in as president, The Black Winds would have no choice but to forcefully take over the country and overthrow the republic. Saleah was sworn in on January 1st.

On January 6th, 2015, 5 days after Spencer Saleah was sworn into office, The Black Winds, led by president candidate Alexander Gutar and head of the military Joseph Kirt, launched a coup in the capital of Saint Maria, overthrowing the Republic, capturing many government leaders (including Spencer Saleah), and creating a military-dictatorship under Black Winds rule. Numerous provincial leaders refused to recognize The Black Winds government, and established the National Liberation Army (N.L.A.), based off the organization that had overthrown the Beldonian monarchy in 1962, with the expressed purpose of overthrowing The Black Winds and restoring the republic. The Black Winds gave it's ultimatum that if N.L.A. leaders hadn't surrendered by January 15th, war would begin,

Opening Stages

Initial Offensive

Fighting began on January 16th, when an army of the Black Winds marched north to take control of Calinta. Alexander Gutar believed the N.L.A. did not pose a serious threat to The Black Winds, and a quick victory could be secured by early February in order to avoid a full-scale war. However, when the military commanders, specifically previous head of the Beldonian Army Joseph Kirt disagreed him with, Gutar made himself the Supreme Military Commander of all Beldonian forces, despite having no experience in leading an army. He then ordered a full scale attack, calling on almost all troops and supplies under his control. The N.L.A. had expected an offensive, and so had taken a strictly defensive strategy, digging trenches and fortifying positions with machine guns and artillery. The first day of fighting were fierce, with an estimated 2,000 soldiers dying the first week of war. Though The Black Winds were able to push the N.L.A. forces back, their advance was particularly slow. The offensive would be halted in March, with only minor gains on the side of The Black Winds. N.L.A. leadership considered this victory paramount, as it allowed the N.L.A. valuable time to sort out supply routes and organize it's army.

Death of Spencer Saleah

On February 26th, previous president Spencer Saleah was sentenced to death by Alexander Gutar. He was given a public hanging in the square of Santa Maria in front of the Presidential manor on February 28th, an event thousands of locals attended. Unlike many other executions at the time, The Black Winds allowed Saleah to utter his last words to the audience. His short speech was quickly spread across the nation and as the world as a cry for democracy and peace, particularly the final words of the speech; "This is our home, we are our family. No matter how much blood is split, we will be strong. And when our time comes, we will rise. For if God is with us, then who could possibly stand in our way?" These words were later made the official motto of the N.L.A., and later by numerous democratic factions all across the world.

Effects

Diplomacy

The war led to VERY BAD RELATIONS with Sacrofnia

Human Rights

The Black Terror

26 dead Republicans who were killed by The Black Winds

The Black Terror was a series of organized purges and assassinations against both Leftists and foreigners in Black Winds occupied parts of West Beldonia. These deaths are estimated to have caused up to 20,000 deaths, including those of numerous N.L.A. and First Republic leaders, most famously Spencer Saleah. Though top Republican officials were executed by public hanging, others were simply shot by firing squad and thrown mass graves or the ocean. The Black Terror is also have said to have targeted homosexuals and atheists, though less investigation has been done into these claims.