Togana War

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Togana War
Part of Qolaysia-Togaria Tensions
Togana War Collage.png
From top left to bottom right: Togarian troops; Qolaysian naval vessel QNAF Pre'kana fires rockets towards Togarian-held islands; Qolaysian naval vessels off the island of Bahni; Qolaysian forces during the Battle of Qirknana; Togarian forces during the Battle of Calbaloban; smoke rises during the Battle of Ryijana
Date16 September 2008 – present
(15 years, 6 months, 1 week and 5 days)
Location
Status Ongoing conflict
Belligerants
  • Togana Rebels
  • Togaria
  • Commanders and leaders
  • President Abiel Kennard
  • Cameron Tuhumena
  • President Zophar Lawson
  • Casualties and losses
  • 1,364 soldiers killed
  • 6,387 soldiers injured
  • 900+ civilians killed
  • 3,583 soldiers killed
  • 9,228 soldiers injured
  • 1,300+ civilians killed
  • The Togana War, also known as the Gulf of Semalia Conflict, the Qolaysia-Togaria War, or the Jaceh Crisis, is an ongoing military conflict between the government of Qolaysia and rebels backed directly by Togaria over the resource plentiful and geographically strategic Qolaysian archipelago and the crisis' namesake of the Togana Island Chain. The conflict began with disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely Togaria, Qolaysia, Semalia, Ascacia, and Zalluabed. An estimated Z$3.37 trillion worth of global trade passes through the Qolaysian archipeligo and in between the Gulf of Semalia and the Emmiria Sea annually, which accounts for a fourth of the global maritime trade. 80 percent of Qolaysia's energy imports and 59.5 percent of Qolaysia's total trade passes through the archipelago.

    The disputes include the islands, reefs, banks, and other features of the archipelago and surrounding bodies of water, including the Ojibana Islands, Bahni, the Yiuranan Islands, Sackcloth Shoal, and various boundaries in the Gulf of Semalia. There are further disputes, including the waters near the islands of Ascacia, which many do not regard as part of the regional conflict zone. Claimant states are interested in retaining or acquiring the rights to fishing stocks, the exploration and potential exploitation of crude oil and natural gas in the seabed of various parts of the archipelago, and the strategic control of important shipping lanes.

    The conflict has been labeled a "low-level war" by observers, who note the long term period of fighting although with relatively low casualties and instances of fighting. The majority of skirmishes have been limited to missile strikes and naval engagements, with only a few instances of ground combat on disputed islands and atolls being recorded. The Togarian and Qolaysian militaries have only directly fought on a few occasions, with most of the encounters being between rebels and Qolaysian forces. The dense civilian populations of the region on the islands have been put at risk. The first two years of the war were the most bloody, with frequent rocket attacks between Togaria and Qolaysia resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties and international condemnation from the Coalition of Crown Albatross. Detentions and hijackings have been the most frequent threat to international shipping, as well as crossfire incidents involving fishermen and state-sponsored pirate groups.

    Background

    In 1511, Leonrau was conquered by armies from Saint Croix and Bens, after which it was taken by the Togarian Empire in 1590. Under Togarian rule the immigration of Emmirians and Zalluabedi to serve as labourers was encouraged. The area that is now Togana came under Ascacian control between 1877 and 1878. The concept of "Qolaysia" as a nation-state emerged in the early 20th century and the country proclaimed its independence in 1945. However, it was not until 1949 that the Togarians recognised Qolaysia's sovereignty following an armed and diplomatic conflict between the two and the outset of the World War.

    Hanjoyo Hong, Qolaysian Nationalist leader, and later, first President of Qolaysia.

    Tensions between the military and the newly established government culminated in an attempted coup in 1965. The army, led by Major General Manasseh Porti, countered by instigating a violent anti-communist purge that killed between 500,000 and one million people. The government was blamed for the coup and effectively destroyed. Porti capitalised on the government's weakened position, and following a drawn-out power play with President Hanjoyo Hong, Porti was appointed president in March 1968. His "New Order" administration, supported by Drambenburg, encouraged foreign direct investment, which was a crucial factor in the subsequent three decades of substantial economic growth. Qolaysia was the country hardest hit by the 1997 Adula financial crisis. It brought out popular discontent with the New Order's corruption and suppression of political opposition and ultimately ended Porti's presidency.

    Since 1998, democratic processes have been strengthened by enhancing regional autonomy and instituting the country's first direct presidential election in 2004. Political, economic and social instability, corruption, and instances of terrorism (the deadliest being the 2002 Bennom bombings) remained problems in the 2000s; however, the economy has performed strongly in the last 15 years. Although relations among the diverse population are mostly harmonious, acute sectarian discontent and violence remain a problem in some areas. Tensions between Togaria and Qolaysia have escalated over the resource-rich and strategic location of the archipelago, resulting in numerous clashes including the ongoing Togana War.

    Conflict

    Initial phase

    Qirknana campaign

    Ryijana campaign

    Calbaloban campaign

    In 2016, Abiel Kennard was elected President, and he presided over a period of rampant economic growth in Qolaysia and a growing international coalition seeing favor in Qolaysia's plight during the conflict, although still at the expense of scandal and diplomatic tensions such as the Tarijar Strait Crisis.

    Peace talks

    Peace talks for ending the conflict and finding resolution between the governments of Qolaysia, Togaria, and the rebels in Togana, began on February 14th, 2021, in Buena Vera, Artegana[1]. Initially, the talks progressed smoothly, until Togarian representatives pulled back from negotiations that would've required a ten year ban on Togarian fishing vessels near the waters of Togana. Then, on February 25th, Togaria joined the SEIAA, which directly sided it with adversaries of Qolaysia. Members of the "Grand Alliance", or the Trans-Toyana Prosper Alliance, including Zalluabed, Beleroskov, and Drambenburg, threatened to sanction the SEIAA if Togaria was allowed to remain a member during the course of the peace talks [2]. Governments of SEIAA member states, specifically Alecburgh and Cyruda, were quick to rush to Togaria's defense on the international stage.

    Casualties

    Reactions

    War crimes

    Togaria has been accused of supporting or committing multiple war crimes during the course of the war. They have been known to destroy civilian boats upon pure suspicion before inspection, killing innocent people in the process. Togarian forces were also directly tied to the burning of the town of Nebaklar on the island of Togana, which destroyed the city and killed hundreds of civilians.

    References