Kolda
Republic of Kolda | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: "By the People For the People" | |
| Anthem: The Black Star | |
| Capital | Guinewaye |
| Official languages | French |
| Recognised national languages | Kango, Arabic |
| Recognised regional languages | Spanish, Fonyiara |
| Demonym(s) | Koldan |
| Government | Republic |
• President | Etienne Senghor |
| Establishment | |
• Founding Date | June 18th 1984 |
| Area | |
• Total | 46,816 km2 (18,076 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 16% |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 16,800,000 |
| HDI | 0.618 medium |
| Currency | Koldan Franc (KFA) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +209 |
| Internet TLD | .KL |
Kolda, officially known as the Republic of Kolda is a mid-sized state located in Neria, south of Lehvant with a population of 15,678,000. Kolda was founded in 1984. Although the country became independent, from 1968 to 1984, Kolda was under the control of the minority-rule government led by Andrien Duchamps and was known as Brissac. The country went through a civil war leading to the control of the socialist president, Seynabou Gano. After the death of Gano in 2009, his vice president Etienne Senghor took over, and Sendhor still remains President today despite opposition in the 2019 Election.
Etymology
The name Kolda comes from the ancient empire of Kolda that existed from the years 800 to 1300 and built a number of structures including the Great Palace of Guinewaye. From 1968 to 1984, Kolda was known as the Republic of Brissac, with the name Kolda being a symbol of liberation against the Arrivee government.
History
Kolda has been settled by organized humans since at least 10,000 BCE, with the first documented evidence being the Wassau stone monuments created by an unknown civilization. It’s believed this civilization achieved its peak around 400 CE before desertification led to the mass immigration of those living there. Around 800, the Kolda Empire came to prominence. At this time the empire became recognized for trading with states located to the north. This also led to the spread of Islam across the country's northern region. The capital city of Kolda, Guineawaye became a center of trade science, and invention. Around 1200, the empire adopted Islam as its official religion and began a massive conquest of surrounding lands. This led to a golden age of innovation during the 1300s, however, in 1540, a season of droughts led to the collapse of agriculture causing civil unrest and the collapse of the empire. In 1580, the Costenan Empire established the colony of Encataria and established a deal with surrounding states to send those defeated in battle to the colony to be sold as slaves to other colonies such as Slokais Islands, then known as San Fernando. In 1786, Kolda was taken by France as the colony of Brissac. The French built the city of Port de Saint Paul in 1810, before being transferred to Laeral after their independence. The city was quickly built to be molded in the French style with ornate buildings and wide streets. Over the next several decades, Arrivee began to establish settlements further inland leading to conflict. By 1920, 70% of the land in Kolda was owned by non-Koldans, with many leaving the countryside to work in factories in Saint Paul. In 1938, a revolt began in Moudjerria calling back to the Koldan Empire, as a result, many of the artifacts were stolen or destroyed as a means of suppressing dissent. In 1935, the State of Brissac was created as an affiliate state of Laeral, under a system of minority rule. Only Arrivee and Lehvantain had the right to vote and hold positions in government.
Geography
Kolda is made up of 5 regions starting with Rivières located along the Banguala River that forms the natural boundary between the arid north and forested south. To the south is the Region of Brissac, located in the foothills of the Orome Mountains. In the east is the mostly rural, forested region of Kendougou-Sabourisse. To the north is the mostly semi-arid Moudjerria Region home to much of the Arabic-speaking population of Kolda. Finally the most populous province of Guinewaye-Lennes home to the capital city of Guinewaye.
Politics
Kolda uses a presidential system, with the president being the head of state and govermeant. Kolda had traditionally been dominated by the KLF-U or Koldan Liberation Front-Union who have held control of both the National Assembly and the Presidency since 1984. The KLF-U is a traditionally socialist political party although since 2009 has been described as conservative. Elections for president are held every 5 years while parliamentary elections are held at most every 5 years although it can be declared sooner by a majority vote and presidential approval.