Alanweke

Republic of Alanweke Repoblik nke Alanweke (Igbo)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: De hoc ortu solis (Latin) On the rising sun
Anthem:  Chineke na-agọzi Africa (Igbo) God bless Africa
Location of Alanweke (Dark Blue) in the African Union (light blue)
Capital and largest city	Nkugwu
Official languages	Igbo English Igbo sign-language Ijaw
Recognised national languages	Ewe
Ethnic groups (2018)	48.6% Igbo 35.8% Ijaw 9.8% Ewe 3.5% Ogoni 2.3% Other
Religion	72.5% Christianity 14.7% Traditional faiths 7.4% Islam 3.9% No religion 1.5% Other
Demonym(s)	Nwekese
Government	Unitary Semi-Presidential constitutional republic
• President	Okeli Okparra
• Prime Minister	Uchie Chimaijem
Legislature	Parliament
Establishment
• Dominion	15 August 1956
• Republic	1 January 1962
• Military Coup	11 November 1962
• Current Constitution	28 August 2017
Area
•	120,150 km2 (46,390 sq mi) (98th)
Population
• 2020 estimate	21,021,837 (58th)
• 2018 census	19,764,675
• Density	164.5/km2 (426.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$288 Billion
• Per capita	$13,726
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$101 Billion
• Per capita	$4,837
Gini (2020)	45.3 medium
HDI (2020)	0.697 medium
Currency	Nwekese Dollar (NKD)
Time zone	UTC (GMT)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+219
Internet TLD	.nk

Alanweke, officially the Republic of Alanweke (Igbo: Repoblik nke Alanweke) is an Island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the southern coast of Western Africa. The country consists of dozens of islands although the largest are Nnukwuti and Ndandati. The country has an area of 120,150 km2 (46,390 sq mi). Alanweke shares maritime borders with Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

The first permanent state in Alanweke dates back to the 12th century, Agu State. Throughout Alanweke's history there have been several kingdoms and states. The most notable states being Alanwoye and Alanweke empire. The Alanweke empire was the first state to unify all of the islands and ruled from 1488 to 1547. Starting with the Portuguese empire in the late 15th century, several European powers sought to gain trading rights on the island due to it's geographic location in the Gulf of Guinea. The British empire were successful in gaining a monopoly on trade in Alanweke and set up their first port in 1547 which was named Port Elizabeth.

The British established total control over the archipelago in the mid 18th century. The islands were merged into one colonial Territory called South Guinea with it's capital in Port Elizabeth. In 1905, a rebellion amongst the native population began. The rebels were able to capture Port Elizabeth in 1906 and the city was destroyed. The rebellion was put down in 1906 and strict new laws were implemented over the native population. During World War 2 the colony was an important staging ground for naval operations in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1956, the Dominion of Alanweke was established and in 1962 full independence was declared. Shortly after this, a military coup against the President occurred and from 1962 to 2016 the country was a Military dictatorship in 2017, the military regime ended following negotiations between the opposition and the military. The Pretoria agreement established a Democracy in the country.

Alanweke is a Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic. Alanweke's economic prosperity and recent transition to Democracy have made it a Regional power in West Africa. Alanweke is a member of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Group of 24, the Non-aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations

Etymology

The Etymology of the name Alanweke translates to "Land of Nweke" referring to Nweke Diji, the first ruler of a unified state on the Guinea Archipelago. The name has been used at various points throughout the country's history. Alanweke was referred to as Meriagha during British colonial rule. This comes from an earlier state in the north of the Archipelago that first came in contact with the British.

History

Movement to independence

In 1951, several Alanwekese nationalists inspired by Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, founded the Alanwekese Self-Government Coalition. It's goal was to demand free elections in Meriagha and an elected majority native parliament in the country. The ASGC was banned for holding pro-independence rallies in 1953 and it's leaders including Chinweike Izuchukwu who led a Hunger Strike whilst in prison. Izuchukwu's hunger strike caused large demonstrations about his treatment in Prison and eventually authorities were forced to release the leaders of the ASGC.

Remnants of the ASGC later regrouped and led an underground pro-independence movement. Authorities in Meriagha instituted a crackdown in 1955 on Pro-Autonomy institutions causing large riots across the country and the deaths of 21 people. The crackdown and riots led to the dismissal of the Governor General Stanley Holmes who left Meriagha for South Africa to avoid persecution. Following the riots, a widespread push for Dominion status was initiated and in 1956 Meriagha was granted Dominion status and an elected parliament.

Talks between Alanwekese nationalists and British officials were ineffective.

In the 1956 Meriaghan legislative election, the pro-independence Movement for Alanwekese Freedom won 27 out of the 51 seats available and formed the first native led government in Meriagha. Following their victory, newly elected Prime Minister Belonwu Afamefuna said independence was their driving goal. Afamefuna met with Anthony Eden in London to discuss a roadmap for independence which according to Eden in his memoirs were, "a complete failure".

Despite this in 1958 a referendum was held on changing the country's constitution which passed with a large amount of support. The following day, Afamefuna and other high ranking politicians announced the beginning of the State of Alanweke. In 1960, whilst under pressure from members of his party and London to resign, Afamefuna called for a 1960 Alanwekese legislative election which his party once again won.

On 1 January 1962, the Alanweke formally declared independence from British Empire and became a Republic. Belonwu Afamefuna was declared as Premier of the new republic. Afamefuna led Alanweke into the Non-Aligned movement and established relations with the Soviet Union and the United States.

At the beginning of his Premiership, Afamefuna declared himself as a pro-western Socialist although throughout 1962 his views changed and he became more favourable to the Soviet Union.

Military dictatorship

On 11 November 1962, a military coup led by Gen. Zikoranaudodimma Chinaza overthrow Afamefuna. Chinaza declared himself as acting Premier shortly after the coup. Afamefuna escaped from Alanweke and fled to Moscow where he called for a military intervention to end military rule which never happened.

Chinaza called for 1965 Alanwekese legislative election which led to pro-military candidates winning every seat in Parliament. After this the military's rule in Alanweke was largely secured. Following the coup, Chinaza and other members of the ruling Council for Security (KMN) promoted Western investment in Alanweke and under his rule the Alanwekese economy grew at faster rates than other East African nations although a recession in 1974 led to the economy to become stagnant.

Chinaza died in 1976 and his deputy, Madukwe Tobechukwu was appointed as Premier. Tobechukwu's tenure as President saw large crackdowns on Personal liberties after student demonstrations in 1980. Tobechukwu transformed Alanweke into a police state to preserve the military's rule and declared martial law. During his rule at least 200 people were abducted and executed for involvement in opposition groups. A cult of personality was formed around Tobechukwu and other members of the KMN. Tobechukwu was assassinated whilst on a diplomatic visit to Switzerland in 1985.

Following Tobechukwu's assassination, the KMT agreed to once again rewrite the constitution and establish the role of President which would replace the roll of Premier. The 1990 Alanwekese presidential election was won by pro-military candidate Chydi Chioma who allowed for some freedoms to be restored and ended martial law. However Chioma was removed from office by the KMN following the 1999 Alanwekese coup d'état attempt. His various successors ended his reforms.

The 2014 Alanwekese protests were largely led by young people and students

On July 18 2014, popular opposition figure Okeli Okparra was arrested by police and barred for running in the following year's Presidential election. Okparra's arrest proved to be a tipping point and led to nationwide protests against the military's rule which turned violent on July 24 when 11 protesters were shot by the military in Nkugwu. Despite police crackdowns the protests continued. The protests eventually led to the resignation of President Orjee Chukwudi and Okparra was once again allowed to run in the Presidential election which he later won in a major political upset.

Okparra's victory led to the KMN to negotiate with opposition figures and eventually culminated in the Pretoria agreement when the military agreed to end interference in Alanwekese politics, allowed for the transition to democracy and a new constitution in 2017.

Democracy

Following the Pretoria agreement, Okeli Okparra held a new general election in 2019 which led to the newly founded pro-democracy Movement for Democracy (MfD) winning 146 seats out of the available 197.

The newly elected parliament then chose the leader of the MfD and former Presidential candidate in 2010 Uchie Chimaijem to be Prime Minister.