Tesopo

Tesopo is a country in central Bulungi, bordering Frantaque to the west Buritan to the north and Tentoria to the south and east.

Historically a Michillian colony, the country is known for being one of the most neutral countries in the Bulungian subcontinent.

History

Scramble for Bulungi

The Michillian colony was poorly benefitted during the Harlin Conference. A little bit of extra land was conceded in order to honor King Mwaganyaja's territory. In order to avoid hostilities, Tesopo was declared a condominium in 1894.

Independence

The king was deposed and Tesopo unilaterally declared independence from the Michillies on August 10, 1957. The first president, Mabwanga Taylor, was a descendant of Hopelandian president Charles Wachee and Freedonian female prime minister Priscilla Blake. In a time marked by decolonization across Bulungi, Tesopo was given the task of becoming a "free, neutral republic" in accordance with the 1957 Act of Self-Governance. However, weeks upon the declaration of independence, Mabwanga was deposed to Freedonia and Awazachi Nannyara was elected president for life, plunging Tesopo into a military dictatorship that ignited a civil war years later.

Civil war and end of the military dictatorship

Tesopo was a military dictatorship whose primary cause of hatred was its colonizer, the Michillies, who had become a Catholic dictatorship in 1945. A minority would profess "foreign religions" and the government valued the traditional Bulungian religions in order to fight foreign influence.

However, by the mid-60s, tensions began to rise between several ethnic groups and Buritan. This did not escalate to a full-on civil war until 1972, when Nannyara accused Buritan of telling lies about Tesopo.

AoN forces arrived in April 1977 to create a state of law and order that would last until October 9. The forces successfully killed Nannyara and declared that the country was free again.

On the following day, the Tesopan government returned to the former free state after twenty years as a military dictatorship and the deported president returned to power until new presidential elections were called. Eventually, in March 1979, constitutional elections were held, followed by presidential elections in October. Waliah Thaddies (descendant of former Hopelandian president Emmanuel Thaddies and younger brother of Freedonian president Jamani Thaddies) was elected on October 28.

Government and politics

Tesopo's political system is that of a presidential representative democratic republic based upon a multi-party state. The President of Tesopo is the head of state and head of government. There are currently 21 registered parties in Tesopo.

International relations

Tesopo maintains high diplomatical relations with Frantaque, South Bulungi, Akania, Freedonia, Namu Labaki, the Michillies, North Arlesbury, Flarland, Northulia, the New Michillies, Lenapore and Hopeland. There is barely any criticism of the United States.

Tesopo is a member of The Anglophony and the Bulungian Union.

Administrative division

Tesopo is divided into five states, each with its own governor. They are furtherly undivided into 39 provinces and 669 counties.

Culture

Languages

Tesopo has five official languages: English, Mbaji, Kirundi, Swahili and Chichewa.

Media

Main article: Media of Tesopo

Two newspapers are controlled by the government: the Tesopo Times and sister publication Sports Times. A handful of newspapers pertain to the so-called "independent press" and have been the center of government controversies.

The Tesopan Broadcasting Authority operates four radio stations. It competes against Citadel Radio and Mwanja FM.

The Tesopan Broadcasting Authority launched a television service in 1995. Until then people would watch TV in community centers and consisted of broadcasts from abroad. TBA Television was set up to provide basic dissemination of information. In 2004, a commercial competitor, Citadel Television, launched. The TBA launched a second channel in April 2015 catering younger demographics. Satellite operators DSTV, Zuku and Azam TV operate in the country.