South Africa

The southernmost nation in Africa, with a population comparable to pre-war levels thanks to waves of immigration from neighboring nations, and extensive funding and protection granted by the Armor Corps Coalition. South Africa bears a history of colonialism, ethnic and cultural conflict, and suffers from widespread crime, poverty, and inequality, all issues that have been exacerbated by the events of the Human-Vannai War and the instability that followed.
Strongly aligned to the ACC owing to the protection given to them by the Green Initiative, and aid granted in restoring South African territory lost during Vannai Puppet offensives. Green Initiative and Hanse Behörde both play significant roles in South African politics, providing advisors to help guide the fractured nation towards stability and security. The current head of ACC in the area is Emily Hughes, the governor and assistant to the president, Christiaan van Vollenhoven.
==History==
===Pre-War===
The earliest European settlements in South Africa date back to 1652, where the foundations of what would later become Cape Town were laid down by Dutch settlers on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which later became home to a large population of ex-employees of the company, and a large number of slaves imported from elsewhere in Africa and south asia. There was sporadic violence between African natives and groups of Dutch frontier farmers known as Boers, who formed loose militias which they termed commandos to repel raids with the aid of other native south African groups.
South Africa would fall under British occupation during the early 1800s, encouraging Dutch settlers to expand outwards to establish their own nations and avoid British rule, founding nations in the future Natal, Free State, and Transvaal regions, amongst others. The discovery of diamonds and gold elsewhere in South Africa during the late 1800s intensified the efforts of the British to lay claim to the entirety of South Africa, leading to the First and Second Boer Wars, which ultimately resulted in all of South Africa falling under British rule.
It wouldn’t be until the dawn of the 20th century that South Africa would be once more independent from British rule. In 1910, it was made a dominion, and later in 1931 with the passing of the Statute of Westminster, the nation was made fully sovereign. The thirties and forties led to growing nationalism and the institution of apartheid, racial segregation between the ruling white minority and the black majority. Opposition to apartheid came from both outside and inside the nation, though the South African government’s dedication to the policy ensured that it remained enshrined in law until the 1990s.
Despite the end of apartheid, racial tensions and unemployment remained high, and South Africa’s score on the Human Development Index fell from 1995 to 2005, only recovering in 2013, shortly before the outbreak of the war.
===Human-Vannai War===
South Africa was slightly worse hit than the majority of the rest of Africa, owing to its greater integration into the internet, though it suffered far less than larger western nations. Escaping the early days of the war with its population and infrastructure relatively intact, the slow encroachment of Vannai Puppets along the borders caused the nation to slowly contract into more defensible positions, culminating in the full scale retreat of government and military forces, leaving the country leaderless and without protection. This continued until the intervention of human-allied suit forces, which offered their protection in exchange for food and other supplies.
This mutually beneficial relationship was encouraged by AC and GI forces, who continued to support South Africa militarily, reclaiming regions lost to encroaching puppets. In addition, GI played a formative role in the restoration of the South African government, directly contributing to the new government with advisors, a role that would controversially then be taken on by Hanse. 
During the war, South Africa was predominantly dependent on the Coalition for support and defense, however the nation proved instrumental in supporting ACC operation in and around Africa with supplies and other material support, though it has been notably unable to provide large quantities of actual manpower, as despite its large population, the instability and wide borders both demand significant resources to manage, leaving the South African army weakened compared to its peers, both during the war and in the modern day.
Additionally, Lesotho, Eswatini, and portions of Namibia and Botswana had been given to the South African government for administration and management by ACC following their liberation during the Bright Offensive.
===Post-War===
Following the destruction of the Vannai Mothership, and the subsequent drop in puppet activity, both on the continent and worldwide, ACC’s involvement in the South African government has been questioned, both by politicians and the general public. The success of other African nations without direct support from ACC or any other suit-faction has only inflamed certain groups within the nation who desire true South African independence from outside parties, and seek to expel AC, GI, and Hanse.
Economically, South Africa has continued to struggle despite it’s growing population and relative prominence in the world. Suffering under one of the highest rates of unemployment, with the majority of ACC funding going to housing and feeding the large immigrant population, pre-war tensions surrounding immigration have flared once more, leading to large riots with numerous deaths and violent clashes between locals and immigrants. Due to a lack of industrial development, South Africa has become extremely dependent on outside assistance to maintain their economy, and struggles to maintain its standing army.
==Government==
After the fall and dissolution of the South African government during the war, the South African government was rebuilt with the aid of the Green Initiative, who acted as an interim government while a new one was built. The legacy of that interim government continues to be felt to the modern day, as hand picked GI agents often take high positions in the South African government, or otherwise act in advisory roles to high ranking South African officials. Hanse has largely assumed control of the country, inheriting much of GI’s strong influence, and has attempted to stabilize the country with the aid of the current President, Christiaan van Vollenhoven, a moderate in favour of reduced ACC presence in the nation.
South Africa is theoretically a democratic nation, however elections have been indefinitely suspended.
==Policies==
===Military===
South Africa’s army (the South African National Defence Force) is almost entirely vestigial, with only a little over 300,000 men and women, with limited equipment. The vast majority of these troops are ex-military personnel and poorly trained conscripts, with only limited motorization following the destruction of much of the South African military material during the Human-Vannai war. This has limited the SANDF to border security operations only, without the maneuverability nor manpower to consider any offensive operations to reclaim territory or permanently destroy the limited Puppet presence further north. 
Small militia groups, echoing the original Dutch commandos, have begun to form to stand in opposition to the central African warlords, defending small communities on the fringes of South Africa. 
===Economic===
Shortly after the reorganization of the South African government, GI advisors guided the South African economy towards food production to help ensure food security both at home and abroad, however any plans for expanding the South African economy collapsed when the relative stability attracted large numbers of civilian immigrants. Ordered to feed and house the immigrants by GI and AC despite a previously hostile stance to foreign immigration and a lack of preparedness, the South African economy continued to languish and stagnate, only barely managing to continue functioning thanks to aid from the ACC.
Unemployment, poverty, and homelessness are all high, and droughts are common, stretching an already overtaxed water system to its limits, forcing near constant rationing. Though damaged by the war, South African industry continues to produce large volumes of raw and processed metals, diamonds, cars, and coal, while the farming sector has grown under GI supervision, and now helps feed numerous other ACC aligned nations.
===Diplomacy===
Though wracked by internal strife, the government is outwardly supportive of ACC and ACC’s intentions. Despite being theoretically independent, GI and Hanse still exert significant sway over the country's politics.
Category:PACYOA: TE
Category:TE Nations
Category:Africa
Category:South Africa