Okandani

Okandani, officially the Republic of Okandani, is a country located in the southern part of eastern Kasare, bordered by the Chiembulu Strait to the south, the Banube Sea to the west and the Osamian Ocean to the southeast. The country covers almost the entirety of the Gagalalo Peninsula and has an area of 430,318.42 km2 (166,146.87 sq mi).

Prehistory
Oldest human remains found in Okandani date to 110 000 BCE. Inhabitants of these paleolithic settlements were dubbed Vahoaka people. Based on DNA studies, they came originally from eastern Kasare. Around 50 000 BCE, Mokwongo people from southeastern Kasare started crossing the Chiembulu Strait. They eventually assimilated with Vahoaka people, forming Vahoaka-Mokwongo culture.

Around 9000 BCE, pastoral Watu tribes started migrating from the north across the Diyore Landbridge. Their raids pushed people of the Vahoaka-Mokwongo culture to the coasts of Gagalalo Peninsula. Between 500 and 400 BCE H'Ejrad religion spread from Dahar Desert and took foothold within Watu tribes. Along with their religion, missionaries brought a writing system. This was the first instance of a writing system being used in the region.

Yokojanja dynasty
In the early seventh century CE, maritime Jiwa started settling on the coast of Gagalalo Peninsula. They established several major trading ports and over the years mostly peacefully assimilated local populace. In the late eighth century CE, Namdala trading port gained prominence among the city states on Okandani coast. The Yokojanja dynasty of merchants and rulers emerged from this city. They carried out a series of short military campaigns and diplomatic dealings with the nearby city states. By 814 CE King Yuoro unified most of Okandani coast under his rule.

The Okandani Kingdom, led by the Yokojanja dynasty, often clashed with pastoral Watu to the north. Their conflicts escalated over the years and in 872 CE, King Jatelo defeated a Watu coalition army in a pitched battle near mountain Locho. Soon after, Watu tribes folded to Jatelo’s demands. This was the first time the whole area of current day Okandani was united into a single nation.

Biashara dynasty
In the year 1341 CE Queen Matundek, the last living member of the Yokojanja dynasty died. Several minor nobles attempted to usurp the throne. By the year 1350, a Watu merchant Biashara emerged victorious and established himself as the king of Okandani.

In the year 1376 CE, Biashara’s only daughter Miderma was succeeded by her cousin Okewolamo. He was likewise an ethnic Watu and a pious jarader, and due to his influence much of the Okandani population was converted to H’Ejrad. Through gradual land reforms he boosted the power of Watu jaraders and he established a new type of jarader schools educating the children of merchant caste (called Jaloko Puonjo). He and his successors several times changed the import/export taxes to the benefit of jarader citizens. This earned them some ire in the first half of the 15th century CE, with several minor rebellions breaking out primarily in the eastern part of the Kingdom. Regardless, by the census of 1470, the majority of the Okandani population professed to be jarader.

On 26 March 1675, a strong earthquake hit the eastern coast of Gagalalo Peninsula. With the combination of the subsequent fires and tsunami, it heavily damaged many of the Okandani eastern cities. Effects of this catastrophe plague the region to this day, as many socio-economic indicators show it falls behind southern and western coastal regions.

Modern day
On 18 October 1954 the Okandani Kingdom joined the Third World War. Often led by officers of noble birthright, the Royal Army suffered several humiliating losses during the war. On 2nd Febuary 1958, by decree of Queen Mwisho the leadership of the Royal Army underwent a restructuralization and for the first time in its history common men were given ranks of generals.

On 2nd October 1958, a military coup led by general Ngumngoye deposed incumbent Queen Mwisho. General Ngumngoye established a military junta and over the span of next four years, brutally repressed his opponents. After his death in 1983, he was succeeded by General Obindi. On 14 December 1987, weeks of protests against his rule escalated into an armed rebellion. By 19 March 1988 General Obindi was deposed and a transitionary parliament was established. They drafted a constitution after the example of the nearby Republic of Alero and on 1st January 1989, they officially established the Republic of Okandani.

Geography
Okandani is located in Eastern Kasare and it is also considered a part of Northern Kasare, between latitudes 97° and 111° W, and longitudes 32° and 39° S. To the north Okandani borders !Country and is roughly delimited by the Diyore Landbridge. To the south it consists of the entirety of the Gagalalo Peninsula.

The country’s total area is 430,318.42 km2 (166,146.87 sq mi). Over 80% of Okandanian territory is mountainous. Tobogot Mountains form the peninsula’s backbone. Okandani’s highest point is Got Mabor at 5,008 m (16,430 ft).