Aybrea

United States of Aybrea Aĩ-Bĩyaa
Flag
Capital	Ntunbe
Largest city	Litebbe
Official languages	Hasu
Demonym(s)	Aybrean
Government
• President	Aklilu Kaleyesus Teklile
Population
• 2020 estimate	10,289,000
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy

The United States of Aybrea, most commonly known as Aybrea, is a nation located in Adula, bordered to the north by Timeria and Cakala, to the south by Austrolis, and to the east by Kantoalina. The country has a population of 10.3 million. Its small geographic area presents variations in climate and population, ranging from vast forests, wildlife and fertile agricultural regions in the south to drier, less fertile arid and semi-arid plateau areas in the north. The capital is Ntunbe and the largest city is Litebbe. Aybrea was its own sovereign kingdom until it was conquered by the Julian Empire, and then traded hands between the Cakalan Empire and Austrolisian Kingdoms for the next millenia. It was a territory of Austrolis until peaceful independence was achieved in 1960. Aybrea is a presidential representative democratic republic, in which elected officials represent the people and the president, currently Aklilu Kaleyesus Teklile, is the head of state and government. Agriculture is the largest sector: tea and coffee are traditional cash crops, while fresh flowers are a fast-growing export. The service industry is also a major economic driver, particularly tourism. Aybrea is a member of the CCA, PADC, TAFCA, and CTO.

Etymology

The United States of Aybrea is named after Mount Aybrea. The earliest recorded version of the modern name was written by Quetanan explorer Daniel Vasconcelos in the 17th century. While travelling with a caravan, Aybrea spotted the mountain peak and asked what it was called. A guide with his caravan told him "Aĩ-Byaa" or "Aĩĩa- Bĩĩyaa", probably because the pattern of black rock and white snow on its peaks reminded him of the feathers of the male ostrich. In archaic Hasu the word 'Aybaa' is used to describe an extremely bright object. The Aiuyu, who inhabit the slopes of Mt. Aybrea, call it Aĩrĩa Aĩrĩnaa (literally 'the mountain with brightness') in Hasu, while the Ambu call it "Aibeaa". All three names have the same meaning. Vasconcelos recorded the mountain on a map as "Aybrea".

Geography

Aybrea is a landlocked country in southwest Adula. It covers an area of 284,000 square kilometres. It is bounded to the north by Timeria and Cakala, to the south by Austrolis, and to the east by Kantoalina. Its southern border is defined by the Gell River. The dominant physical structure is a wide basin bounded to the north and east by the Nedi Plateau and Cakala Mountains, which include Koussi, a dormant volcano that reaches 3,414 metres (11,201 ft) above sea level. There are three distinct climate zones in Aybrea. The northern arid plateau, the midland savannahs, and the southern wetlands.

Wildlife

An Adulan bush elephant

Aybrea's animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. In the plateau region, the only flora is the date-palm groves of the oasis. Palms and acacia trees grow in the northern region. The midland zone consists of broad grasslands or prairies suitable for grazing. As of 2022, there were at least 134 species of mammals, 509 species of birds (354 species of residents and 155 migrants), and over 1,600 species of plants throughout the country.

Elephants, lions, buffalo, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, giraffes, antelopes, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and many species of snakes are found here, although most large carnivore populations have been drastically reduced since the early 20th century. Elephant poaching, particularly in the west of the country in areas such as Burar National Park, is a severe problem. The small group of surviving West Adulan crocodiles in the Nedi Plateau represents one of the last colonies known in the region today.

Extensive deforestation has resulted in loss of trees such as acacias, baobab, dates and palm trees. This has also caused loss of natural habitat for wild animals; one of the main reasons for this is also hunting and livestock farming by increasing human settlements. Populations of animals like lions, leopards and rhino have fallen significantly. Poaching is a serious problem in the country, particularly of elephants for the profitable ivory industry and a threat to lives of rangers even in the national parks such as Burar. Elephants are often massacred in herds in and around the parks by organized poaching. The problem is worsened by the fact that the parks are understaffed and that a number of wardens have been murdered by poachers.

Politics

Aybrea's constitution provides for a strong executive branch headed by a president who dominates the political system. The president has the power to appoint the prime minister and the cabinet, and exercises considerable influence over appointments of judges, generals, provincial officials and heads of Aybrea's para-statal firms. In cases of grave and immediate threat, the president, in consultation with the National Assembly, may declare a state of emergency. The president is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term; in 2005 constitutional term limits were removed, allowing a president to remain in power beyond the previous two-term limit.

Legislature

The National Assembly makes legislation. The body consists of 155 members elected for four-year terms who meet three times per year. The Assembly holds regular sessions twice a year, starting in March and October, and can hold special sessions when called by the prime minister. Deputies elect a National Assembly president every two years. The president must sign or reject newly passed laws within 15 days. The National Assembly must approve the prime minister's plan of government and may force the prime minister to resign through a majority vote of no confidence. However, if the National Assembly rejects the executive branch's programme twice in one year, the president may disband the Assembly and call for new legislative elections. In practice, the president exercises considerable influence over the National Assembly through his party, the Aybrea Democratic Party, which holds a large majority.

Military

Aybrea Armed Forces

Leopard-1 APV Supplied by Quetana

MB-11 "Hellbat" Supplied by Unified Sera

UH-60B Vulture Supplied by Zamastan

The Armed Forces of Aybrea are a small military of roughly 33,250 active enlistees, consisting of the Aybrea Army and Aybrea Air Force. Most of the equipment in the military is supplied by regional allies like Unified Sera and Timeria. Aybrea is part of the Pan-Adulan Defense Coalition.

Culture

Because of its great variety of peoples and languages, Aybrea possesses a rich cultural heritage. The Aybrea government has actively promoted Aybrea culture and national traditions by opening the Aybrea National Museum and the Aybrea Cultural Centre. Six national holidays are observed throughout the year, and movable holidays include the Christian holiday of Easter Monday and the Muslim holidays of Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, and Eid Milad Nnabi.

Cuisine

Millet is the staple food of Aybrea cuisine. It is used to make balls of paste that are dipped in sauces. In the north this dish is known as alysh; in the south, as biya. Fish is popular, which is generally prepared and sold either as salanga (sun-dried and lightly smoked Alestes and Hydrocynus) or as banda (smoked large fish). Carcaje is a popular sweet red tea extracted from hibiscus leaves. Alcoholic beverages, though absent in the north, are popular in the south, where people drink millet beer, known as billi-billi when brewed from red millet, and as coshate when from white millet.

Music

The music of Aybrea includes a number of instruments such as the kinde, a type of bow harp; the kakaki, a long tin horn; and the hu hu, a stringed instrument that uses calabashes as loudspeakers. Other instruments and their combinations are more linked to specific ethnic groups: the Sara prefer whistles, balafons, harps and kodjo drums; and the Kanembu combine the sounds of drums with those of flute-like instruments.

Sports

Football is Aybrea's most popular sport. The country's national team is closely followed during international competitions and Aybrean footballers have played for French teams. Basketball and freestyle wrestling are widely practiced, the latter in a form in which the wrestlers put on traditional animal hides and cover themselves with dust.