Saharia


Population: ~11 million
Primary Language(s): Saharian
Economy: Semi-stable
Exports: Gold, gems, natural gas, oil, diesel, crysilex, opium
Civil Unrest: High
Borders: Restricted
Leader: Muhammed Assian XX
Capitol City: Skalot

Government

Saharia is ruled by an absolute monarch, and because it is a monarchy, no general elections take place, and there are no recognized political parties. The powers of the King is only restricted by religious laws (which has partial influence over Saharian law), and while there is a constitution, it only lists the limitations of government under the King's absolution.

On September 29th, 2274, King Muhammed banished the Council of Members, which had been active for over two thousand years, when 23 of the original 32 ministers left the Palace over massive disagreements with the King. The nine Ministers that remained loyal to the King became Emirs, and the entire country split into nine emirates, with the monarchy still in absolute control.

Ascending to the royal throne is often a simple process (for the most part). The oldest (or only) son of the King becomes the heir to the throne, but there have been instances in which the King had not been able to produce a male heir. Only four times in Saharian history had there been a Queen, and in each time, there was controversy and civil strife amid the royal Assian family over the process. If there is no apparent heir by the time of the King's death, then the King's next oldest sibling ascends to the throne. If there are no other siblings, then the next closest relative becomes ruler, which can be potientally destructive to the Assian family due to the controversies it may cause. Also according to Saharian law, foreigners cannot ascend to the throne, and thus if a non-Saharian marries a Saharian princess whom becomes Queen, the foreigner cannot be King officially, and yet will bear the regal title. However, their offspring can legally ascend to the throne. To maintain the Assian name, any female married to someone outside the family must keep their old name and have the married name as an extension, but if the female ascends to the throne, the married name must be erased. There is such a law written down that in the case that the entire Assian family has been exiled or killed and not by a conquering invader or coup by a rival family, the new King or Queen can be declared via a vote within the Emir Council, and a new royal dynasty would embark.

Culture

Saharia is a country facing a cultural crisis (or revolution, depending on who's talking) concerning the intermixing of other culture's technological advances and mindsets with their own. Ancient traditions clash with modern trends, and this is more apparent in the cities than in the rural villages. The most conservative and traditional of women wear abayas, which are gowns that cover head to toe and have veils that cover their faces, but the majority of women wear either a Jalabea modern dress or 'street attire' that is considered fashionably liberal. The men's attire various mostly by social status, ranging from aba robes to jeans and plain shirts (shirts with logos or other writings are considered too low-brow for even the most liberal of Saharian youth). Turbans are worn mainly by traditional men, but royalty and other high-class men in society prefer to wear ghutras (cloth headwear), with the quality of the igals (the rope around the ghutras) depending on social status. While there is a growing trend of women demanding equal pay and rights as men, the general mindset still encourages gender inequality.

History

For over twenty-five centuries, Saharia had been ruled by the Assian Dynasty, making it one of the world's oldest surviving ruling families. Despite the longetivity of maintaining power, the Assian monarchy had faced serious threats internally and externally that (in some cases) almost collasped their government. While Saharia managed to stave off neighboring enemies and maintain some deal of order within their own lands, rarely was there a time of complete peace in its oft-violent history.

Only within the last two hundred years has Saharia opened themselves up to accepting other worldly dominant cultures and technology. While the living standards improved for those that could afford it, the culture clashes and blending continue to this day.

Today

Despite some reforms implemented by the monarchy, over half of the entire Saharian population are either low middle-class or poor. Over seventy percent of the total population resides in the cities. Only in the medium to higher middle-class and wealthy sectors of Saharian civilization would advanced modern technology would be found, at least legally. The military is sub-standard in comparison to the CMF, but there is a growing trend of reforming the military and budget spending. The CMF has several bases in Saharia, and their presence are usually excused as aid for the local military to fight terrorist cells and to assist in maintaining order. By the middle of 2274 however, relations strained tremendously.

The borders are restricted, and foreigners along with immigrants can only come in and out of the country with the use of a secured pass. Although there are numerous ways to enter the country, over 80% of the legal international traffic comes through the major transportation hub in Skalot.

Anti-monarchy rebel groups cause many headaches for the Assian family, along with groups wanting a republic government. Despite such dangers, even the monarchy are confident that they would continue on ruling over their lands for another thousand years and beyond (at least that's what they keep reminding the public).

Long-distance transportation varies depending on the region. Besides the Bashir Spaceport in Skalot, there are eleven other airports where civilian airliners could land in, and five cross-country major highways (although in the case of the western regions with their hostile climates, the road systems are not as modern and maintained as it would be in the Paarsa and Oman areas). The monarchy-owned Abyad Railways has a monopoly on both cargo and passenger train systems in the country, with the trains modified to adjust traveling through the sandy regions. Finally there are the ships that go through the Imida River stretching across the nation.

Emirates

The rulers of each respective emirate are called emirs, and the relationship between them and the King or Queen is similiar to a Governor toward a President, with a few differences. One primary difference is that the Emirs are not elected to office, but rather inherited to the next generation within the family of the preceding Emir, or appointed by the monarchy if the Emir has been found to be inefficient or corrupt.


Al Khawr


Emir: Abu al Kahyr Soliman  
Emirate Capital: Skalot

Jahra


Emir: Altair Hussien
Emirate Capital: Hasi

Shaar


Emir: Gamali Hadaharei
Emirate Capital: Yessin

Qamar


Emir: Umayyad Kalifah
Emirate Capital: al-Nour

Karbala


Emir: Muwaffaq Kalifah
Emirate Capital: Sikiri

Diyala


Emir: Zubair Tenemah
Emirate Capital: Oskir

Paarsa


Emir: Taymullah Pahlavi
Emirate Capital: Saud (now destroyed, emir government moved to Skalot)

Wasit


Emir: Saddam Tehuren
Emirate Capital: Duskiri

Ninawa


Emir: Mohummed Denaisin
Emirate Capital: Bawadi


Organizations

Inshaalha

Literally meaning "God's Will", Inshaalha enforces the will of the King and the royal family. As a symbol of Saharia's might, they undertake a variety of duties, from Intel to enforcing laws and as bodyguards. There are several branches of Inshaalha, each with their own specific roles, but they all must swear a blood oath of loyalty to the Assian family. Saharian royalty is the Voice of Saharian Authority, while Inshaalha is the Fist of Saharian Authority.

Al-Aqiba

Loosely translated as "The Consequence", Al-Aqiba is the police branch of Inshaalha, responsible for enforcing civil, federal, and (to some extent) religious laws. Because of this, they are the section of Inshaalha mostly associated to the Assian family, and as a result, they are often ridiculed and (mostly) feared by the Saharian population. They are frequent targets by the Khalid Liberation Front, and skirmishes between the two factions are common amid the urban streets of Saharian cities. Mainly identified by their dark brown uniforms with a red stripe going up along the sides of their pants and their silver six-point star badges, Al-Aqiba officers always carry shock staffs and heavy pistols, but in some cases, they can also be seen carrying carbine rifles.

Inshaalha Intelligence

As it is obviously named, this is the Intel Division of Inshaalha, and they conduct various activities of recon (domestic and international), investigating on criminal and political cases, and even black ops. They report directly to the Council of Ministers.

Sovereign Guard

The only military branch of the Inshaalha, the Sovereign Guard is the cream of the crop in the Saharian armed forces, and are literally the Saharian version of the 'Marines'. They are trained rigoriously and are generally fanatical in their loyalty to the royal Assian family. Obviously they are equipped with the most advanced technological weapons and defenses the military can afford. The Royal Guard is a section of the Sovereign Guard and are specifically handpicked by the Assian family to serve as personal bodyguards.

Terrorist Organizations

Khalid Liberation Front

While there are numerous organizations condemned by the Bureau of Internal Investigations and the Assian family as terrorists, the Khalid Liberation Front (KLF) is by far the most powerful and 'successful' of all Saharia-based underground factions. For twenty years, the KLF had fought the local military forces and even the CMF, either directly in bloody urban warfare or in the form of terrorist bombings. To make matters worse, they also have cells based in other countries, even Natherica, Ultima, and Jhaunta, and had claimed responsibility for attacks on various civilian structures in those countries before. However, the majority of their activities lies within Saharia, and it is there where they are the most prominent and dangerous. They are xenophobic, anti-CMF, and most of all, anti-monarchy, as they see the royal Assian family as so corrupt that they have become a hinderance to their goals of purifying the Saharian identity.

Hammer of Light

Although the most recent reports confirm their numbers at under five hundred, the HoL remains as a vital threat to the Assian family due to their stubborn refusal to simply fade away or surrender. Led by the charismatic and elusive Daniel Quin-Fahian, the HoL continues to battle Saharian military and CMF forces over the course of ten years within the mountainous terrian of the Namib province. Their goals consist of, but not limited to: overthrowing the Assian Dynasty and set up a theocratic government, create a new nation out of Saharia to be led by themselves and thrive for their version of an utopia, and/or destroy the outside influences before they corrupt the Saharian identity entirely. At this current time, Daniel Quin-Fahian is in the Top Twenty of the Bureau's Most Wanted List.