Manabí Rive
The Community of Manabí Rive | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Status | Independent |
| Capital | Xohuayán |
| Official languages | Manabí, Huenyan |
| Recognised national languages | English |
| Religion | Teotzin |
| Demonym(s) | Manabí |
| Government | |
• Sapa | Tanqui |
| Establishment | |
• Unification | 1370 |
• Annexation by Xiomera | 1893 |
• Independence from Xiomera | 2020 |
| Population | |
• 2024 census | 412,628 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | 18.989 billion |
• Per capita | 46,524 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | 14.390 billion |
• Per capita | 35,257 |
| HDI (2022) | 0.820 very high |
| Currency | balam (BAM) |
| Time zone | XST |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Internet TLD | .mre |
Manabí Rive is an island nation off the coast of Xiomera on the continent of Caxcana. A former colony of the Xiomeran Empire, the country gained independence in 2020 after the end of the Second Xiomeran Civil War.
Naming conventions[edit | edit source]
The preferred term to address a resident of Manabí Rive is "Manabí". The historical and preferred name for the island is "Manabí Rive". During Xiomeran rule, the island was known as Manauia Island. The Xiomeran rulers over the island referred to the Manabí as "Teyatia", a Huenyan term meaning "backwards ones". The former Xiomeran references are considered extremely derogatory by the Manabí, and are best avoided.
Ethnic Xiomerans on the island, who remained there after independence, often prefer to be called "Xiomeran" instead of "Manabí".
History[edit | edit source]
Early History[edit | edit source]
Historical and archaeological records show that Manabí Rive was home to organized societies dating back to at least 400 BCE. Excavations at the Xibalbá archaeological site in northern Manabí Rive found evidence of a settled community involved in the production and trade of ceramics, as well as stone objects and tools.
Unification[edit | edit source]
Beginning around the year 1320, the various individual communities around Manabí Rive were integrated into a single entity. This process began when Yaxkin, ruler of the city of Xohuayán, began taking control of neighboring settlements. By the time of Yaxkin's death forty years later, Xohuayán controlled the majority of settlements around Manabí Rive. Yaxkin's heir, Tekal, completed the unification of the island under a single ruler and began the traditional system of Manabí governance that continues to this day.
Fighting to remain independent[edit | edit source]
As early as 1389, not long after final unification of Manabí Rive, the island began to attract the attention of the Xiomeran Empire. In that year, Emperor Quiauhticue launched an invasion of Manabí Rive. The invasion failed when the Xiomerans encountered unexpectedly strong resistance, coupled with problems crossing the strait between the island and the Xiomeran mainland. In retaliation, Tekal ordered his own forces to cross the strait after the retreating Xiomerans. This counter-invasion briefly occupied a chunk of Xiomeran coastal territory before Xiomera's own counter-attack forced the Manabí back across the strait.
Xiomera never forgot this humiliation, and Emperor Achcauhyotl would invade Manabí Rive again in 1820. This invasion would also fail, for similar reasons as the first one.
In 1893, a new Emperor, Lōpoch, would try again. This time, the advantage would be firmly with the Xiomerans. The previous Xiomeran ruler, Empress Camaxtica, had embarked on a modernization program which had given Xiomera a technologically superior Army and Navy to Manabí Rive. Lōpoch used this military to good effect, conquering his smaller neighbor within six months and installing a Xiomeran governor in Xohuayán.
Under Xiomeran rule[edit | edit source]
During the period of Xiomeran rule, Manabí Rive was ruled as a colony of the Empire. The Xiomeran economic and political system was imposed over the island, and existing Manabí structures were either dissolved or made subordinate to the Xiomerans. The Imperial governor in Xohuayán was the ultimate authority on the island, second only to the Emperor in Tlālacuetztla. During this period, the Manabí were reduced to the status of second-class citizens in their own country, similar to what Huenyans endured in neighboring Huenya.
During the Second Xiomeran Civil War[edit | edit source]
On July 2nd, 2020, during the Second Xiomeran Civil War, Manabí rebels and Lauchenoirian activists with the group Watchdogs of Our Earth began a revolt on Manabí Rive against the Xiomeran government. Their efforts would ultimately lead to the liberation of the island from Xiomeran rule.
On November 6th, 2020, Empress Calhualyana of Xiomera forced the Manabí leader Tanqui to accept her terms for a Xiomeran withdrawal. Under those terms, ethnic Xiomerans who chose to remain on Manabí Rive would be allowed to do so. Their wealth and possessions would not be confiscated by the new Manabí government, and they would be guaranteed representation in any future Manabí political system. On November 8th, 2020, Xiomeran forces withdrew from Manabí Rive. The island formally declared its independence on that date, and formed a new government.
Geography[edit | edit source]
Manabí Rive is a low and flat island, with the highest point of Mount Chakab near the center of the island only rising to 210 ft. Most of the island ranges from 49 to 66 ft. The island's regions consist of tropical broadleaf forest, tropical coniferous forest and coastal mangrove forests.
Much of Manabí Rive is intact forest. Over half of the country remains free of human development. The great majority of the population is centered around the capital and largest city of Xohuayán. During Xiomeran rule, the Imperial government tried to develop the island, but faced extreme resistance from the Manabí. Since independence, most of the intact forest has been designated as part of the Manabí Rive World Biodiversity Reserve by the government. The MRWBR has very strict restrictions preventing most kinds of development or settlement.
Demographics[edit | edit source]
Population[edit | edit source]
As of the 2024 census, Manabí Rive had a population of 412,628. Its population growth rate was 0.625%. Residents have a life expectancy at birth of 69.87 years: 73.49 years for females, 66.32 years for males.
In 2024, 71% of the population was ethnic Manabí. 26% of the population was ethnic Xiomeran. 3% of the population consisted of all other defined ethnic groups.
Language[edit | edit source]
Manabí and Huenyan are the official languages of the country. The two languages share roots and are mostly interchangeable with some variations. English is not an official language of Manabí Rive, but came into wide use during the period of Xiomeran rule over the country. English is still used as a third language to facilitate communications with the outside world.
Religion[edit | edit source]
Teotzin, the indigenous Huenyan religion, is also the predominant religious belief in Manabí Rive. It represents 95.8 percent of the population. 3.1 percent of the population practice other religions, and 1.1 percent profess no religion at all. While many Manabí Rive residents claim a religious affiliation, the country itself is mostly secular in practice and operation.
Government[edit | edit source]
Manabí Rive is governed by a council of tribal leaders, known as the K'uk'ul-Tan. The council is made up of fifteen hereditary ethnic Manabí tribal leaders known as sapa. This council chooses a paramount leader who represents the council and acts as head of state and government for the country. The current head of the K'uk'ul-Tan and leader of Manabí Rive is Tanqui.
As part of their agreement with the Xiomeran Empire in exchange for independence, Manabí Rive also has an elected council known as the Kukulkan'tan. This elected council provides an opportunity for ethnic Xiomerans to participate in government, unlike the hereditary K'uk'ul-Tan. The Kukulkan'tan votes on legislation to recommend to the paramount sapa for approval. If the paramount sapa does not approve it into law, the legislation can still be enacted if both the K'uk'ul-Tan and Kukulkan'tan approve it with a majority.
Two political parties currently exist to run candidates for the Kukulkan'tan. The Forward Manabí Party holds 25 of the 40 seats in the Kukulkan'tan. The FMP is a center-left political party popular with ethnic Manabí, although it also enjoys some support from younger and more liberal-minded ethnic Xiomerans. The remaining 15 seats in the Kukulkan'tan are held by the Party for Development, Growth and Fairness (PDGF). The PDGF is a center-right to right-wing party popular with ethnic Xiomerans. The main issues of contention between the FMP and the PDGF are development, environmental restrictions, land ownership issues and the amount of Xiomeran representation in the government.
Foreign Relations & Military[edit | edit source]
Manabí Rive pursues a mostly neutral course in foreign relations. The island's government takes its strongest positions on environmental matters, an issue of great importance to many Manabí.
One exception to Manabí Rive's neutrality is that of Xiomera. Relations between the Manabí and their former colonial overlord remain tense. Manabí Rive became a member of the Union of Caxcanan States in 2024 as a way to protect itself from Xiomera. Manabí Rive and Xiomera still maintain a territorial dispute concerning neighboring Cenotillo Island. Xiomera has occupied the island since 1894, but Manabí Rive claims it due to their being Manabí settlements on the island prior to Xiomera's conquest of Cenotillo Island.
The Manabí Rive Defense Force (MRDF) is the island's military. Its largest component is the Navy of Manabí Rive, which consists of ten patrol boats. Its flagship is MRS Xelcalum, a 198 foot offshore patrol vessel built in 1999 for the Xiomeran Imperial Navy and later donated to Manabí Rive by Huenya.
The Army of Manabí Rive consists of two regular battalions, a volunteer battalion and a support battalion. The total troop strength is 1,200 troops.
The Air Force of Manabí Rive consists of 60 personnel. The aircraft complement consists of two attack jets, three helicopters, and four light utility aircraft used for various purposes. The aircraft making up the Manabí Rive air force were also donated by Huenya from stock that country had inherited from Xiomera after independence.
Economy[edit | edit source]
The Manabí economy relies heavily on tourism, especially ecotourism, for most of its economic activity. The tourism industry accounted for 70% of the Manabí GDP in 2024. It also provides jobs for about half the country's workforce. The country attracted 5.8 million visitors in 2024. Despite its major contributions to the Manabí economy, there is a significant local pushback against the tourism industry by Manabí concerned about protecting the island's importance as an environmentally unspoiled location. There is also concern that the profit from the tourism industry does not always lead to long-term, quality jobs for locals or build the overall economy.
After tourism, fishing and agriculture are the second largest part of the Manabí economy, accounting for 15% of GDP.
The third largest sector of the Manabí economy consists of cultural products exported to other countries, which represents 7% of total GDP. Manabí Rive leaders have promoted the country's cultural heritage and environmental-minded reputation to sell both Manabí-themed cultural products and "sustainable products" to the world. Manabí leaders hope that this sector will grow in importance and eventually help the country wean itself off dependence on tourism.
Infrastructure[edit | edit source]
The infrastructure of Manabí Rive is relatively limited in most areas due to the country's marking large portions of the country as areas forbidden to large-scale development. The main transportation links run between the capital Xohuayán and the port city of Nohkux. Two highways and a rail line run between the two cities. Boat and ferry services are heavily utilized to travel around the island as well. The country's main airport, Jashil International Airport, is located in Xohuayán. A smaller regional airport is located in Nohkux. The national bus service, Manabus, provides service between Xohuayán and Nohkux as well as to some smaller communities. Outside of these links, however, getting to most places in Manabí Rive requires either hiking or travel by horse/mule.