Ziwa
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Ziwa | |
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Capital | Tehran |
Largest city | Tehran (12 million) |
Official languages |
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Ethnic groups |
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Religion |
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Demonym | Arianian |
Government | Theocracy |
• Supreme Leader | Ayatollah Mahmood Mekhenei |
• President | Ahmad Moudin |
Legislature | Unicameral Legislature |
Theocracy | |
Area | |
• Total | 588,764 sq mi (1,524,890 km2) |
Population | |
• July 2016 estimate | 8,372,373 (129th) |
• Density | 8,372,373/sq mi (3,232,591.3/km2) (167th) |
GDP | 2016 estimate |
• Total | $85.77 billion |
Time zone | WAT |
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Contents
Political
Ziwa’s history since gaining independence is fraught with a history of coups, disputed elections, regional and ethnic violence, and general instability. While Ziwa has demonstrated intent to improve its democratic governance, a lack of deep-rooted democratic and civil society institutions make it one of the most vulnerable and unstable countries in the region. Despite a troubled past, Ziwa is making progress in recent years toward greater transparency and good governance practices.
Military
The Ziwa People’s Defense Force (ZPDF) is the state military of the Republic of Ziwa. Its structure and focus has adapted over the last decade alongside the country’s economic development. The ZPDF consists of the Ziwa Ground Forces Command (ZGFC), Ziwa Air Corps (ZAC), and the National Guard. Ziwa’s military relations with its neighbors – Amari to the north and Kujenga to the south - is generally stable, despite sporadic low-level incidents along the border. The scope of border control operations has contributed to the forward deployment of dedicated maneuver elements and leveraging of former rebels to ensure the appearance of security.
Multiple threats exist to exploit Ziwa’s dependency on natural resources and external power generation and transmission. Brutal militants in the northeast mountain area (“The Watasi Gang”) and pockets of ethnic rebels throughout the country continue to plague stability and keep the military at continually high operational tempo. Although both Kujenga and Amari have active security agreements with Ziwa, rumors persist of covert support to the rebels by both countries.
Economic
To the casual observer, Ziwa’s relative smallness in size masks an abundance of natural resources. It is one of the world’s largest sources of raw materials. From more than 30 functioning mines, the country produces more than 10 percent of the world’s gold. Other natural resources include mineral reserves of iron ore, copper, platinum, silver, manganese, titanium, chromium, and uranium. Ziwa possesses approximately two-thirds of the world’s platinum, and about half of its chromium.
Ziwa’s diamond trade is one of the largest in the world. It exports large quantities of diamonds each day to destinations around the world, including New York, Olvana, Dubai, and Bangkok. The diamond industry provides a livelihood for millions of people, within as well as outside the country. Many Ziwans have found employment opportunities in jewelry manufacturing, retail, mining, cutting, sorting, polishing, and valuation. Although Ziwa is most famously known for its mineral resources, the country also boasts exportable quantities of sugar and timber.
In descending order of importance, Ziwa’s main competitors in East Africa are Amari (the regional economic hegemon), Kujenga, and Nyumba. Although all of these nation-states are economic rivals, their diplomatic and military relationships are essentially stable. Militant non-state groups and organized criminal elements are the main source of political-military tension in the region.
Ziwa’s economic growth has decelerated in recent years, and last year slowed to a rate of 0.5 percent. Although some private enterprise is allowed to function in accordance with open market dynamics, a state-run electrical utility company underscores the reality of the government’s active role in managing the economy. The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for last year reached $740 billion, climbing from $715 billion three years ago. Its GDP growth rate last year stood at 0.2 percent. A chronic and pervasive lack of electricity generating capacity impedes economic growth. Powercom, the state-run utility company, is currently building two new power stations, and implementing new power demand management measures to improve electrical grid reliability. For the past three years, Ziwa’s lack of electricity generating capacity has caused rolling blackouts, as the demand for power consistently exceeds supply. Ziwa’s economic policy has focused on controlling inflation, but economic growth is impeded by factors such as skills shortages, the country’s declining competitiveness within the global economy, and episodic work stoppages due to strikes or other forms of labor protest. The government finds itself increasingly challenged to deliver basic essential services to urban constituencies, especially in low income areas. Other pressing demands on the government relate to a shortage of jobs, and a growing desire among the country’s youth to attain a university-level education at an affordable price. Infighting among Ziwa’s ruling party and its political competitors, jeopardizes the country’s future economic growth. Last year the most prestigious international credit monitoring agencies placed Ziwa’s credit rating at the same level as junk bonds.
Social
(CONTENT UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Information
Ziwa is a very progressive information sharing and management country with a relatively small population of [null 11.6 million]. The government and population seized on the opportunities that technological advancement offers to enhance the quality of life in Ziwa. The information domain continues rapidly expanding with the aid of government and private support. Seeking to gain the maximum advantage from adoption of new technologies, Ziwa is gaining the economic benefit of improved efficiency and global recognition as an up-and-coming country. The government is using the latest technology to improve the population’s standard of living while maintaining regional security. Information media remain under the control of the government that seeks to establish a protected environment using actively monitoring to detect any censorship or limits on message traffic. Strong legal and legislative systems maintain active checks against government censorship and abuse of the information environment.
Infrastructure
(CONTENT UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Physical Environment
(CONTENT UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Time
(CONTENT UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Threat Actor Chart
Threat Actor | Organization Type | OE | Activities | Targets |
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Salasyl | Insurgent | Southeast Atropia with nation-wide capabilities | Possible ties to transnational criminal and terrorist actors. Has engaged the Atropian regime in a lowlevel insurgency for the past 20 years. Promotes violent populace opposition to state taxation policies, unreliable public services, substandard medical preventive services, inaccessible state education programs for working class citizens, and a judicial system that illegally favors the ruling political party. Salasyl and South Atropian People's Army (SAPA) insurgents often clash violently over ideology, limited resources, and similar recruiting pools. | Atropian government facilities and leaders |
South Atropian People's Army (SAPA) | Insurgent | Focuses on eight provinces in the south with cultural ties to Ariana | Primary goal is to create a separate country composed of southern Atropia and Ariana's northwestern provinces. Receives most of its training, equipment, and supplies from Ariana. SAPA and Salasyl insurgents often clash violently over ideology, limited resources, and similar recruiting pools. | Atropian government facilities and leaders |
Bilasuvar Freedom Brigade (BFB) | Insurgent | Northern Vetlia and Erdabil Provinces | Donovia supports the BFB, creating political tension between Donovia and Atropia. | Atropian government facilities and leaders |
Provisional Army of Lezgin (PAL) | Insurgent | Southern Erdabil and Western Sirvaki Provinces | Small insurgent group with limited regional activities. | Atropian government facilities and leaders |
Bocyowicz Crime Family | Criminal | Ungoverned Territories | Acquires political power in poorly-governed regions, eventually gaining control of geographic space. These political actions are intended to provide security and freedom of movement for the criminal organization's activities. As a result, the third-generation criminal organization and its leadership challenge the legitimate state authority. | Atropian police and security forces |
Atropian Organized Crime (AOC) | Criminal | Baku | The growth of illegal narcotics, smuggling, and even human trafficking conducted outside of established channels only began recently. Many of those involved in Atropian illegal activities live in communities of displaced Atropians from Lower Janga and persons who fled Donovia. Atropia serves as a transit point for narcotics travelling to Donovia and Western countries. | Police and security forces |
Al Iksir Cartel | Criminal | Northern Atropia and Southern Donovia | The growth of illegal narcotics, smuggling, and even human trafficking conducted outside of established channels only began recently. Many of those involved in Atropian illegal activities live in communities of displaced Atropians from Lower Janga and persons who fled Donovia. Atropia serves as a transit point for narcotics travelling to Donovia and Western countries. | Police and security forces |
DATE Africa Quick Links . | |
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Amari | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Kujenga | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Nyumba | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Ziwa | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Other | Non-State Threat Actors and Conditions • Criminal Activity • DATE Map References • Using The DATE |