Second Southambian civil war

"Southambian Spirit". Oil on canvas.

The **Second Southambian Civil War** was a two-sided civil conflict between the Southambian Government, and Southeastern Separatists apart of the Confederation Agreement. The conflict started when Audun Holmgavtsson became the Leader of the Confederation Agreement, and declared independence on the Southambian government.

## Background

*Main Articles: Confederation Agreement, The Answer, and Conservative Loyalists*

Leonard Godsforth came to power in 87;2E following his victory over Incumbent Magistrate Zacharias Richmond in the 86;2E Southambian Magistracy Election. At the time of his inauguration, the Conservative Loyalists were still an unorganized force, and were largely located in PND/PDP friendly districts. Though unorganized, they were commonly apart of the Southambian National Guard, which was established by Richmond following the attempted assassination on his life. The Southambian National Guard was purged, and disestablished by Godsforth a few years into his term following the increase of Loyalist attacks in 89;2E. Remnants of the National Guard who were still apart of the Loyalists formed The Answer. The Answer relied more on guerilla, and insurrectionary attack styles as opposed to the open-fighting of the former Loyalists.

### The Answer

*See also: The Answer*

The Answer was a neo-loyalist guerilla and insurrectionary group responsible for several terrorist attacks since it's foundation. The group has engaged in several minor conflicts with the Southambian government. The frequency of the attacks led to an undeclared minor civil war between the Government and The Answer.

### Confederation Agreement

*See also: Confederation Agreement*

The Confederation Agreement was founded in late 95;2E, a year before the 96;2E Southambian Magistracy Election. In response to the growing support for Eastern Independence from Southambia, the Confederation Agreement was established to act as a de facto regional Government.

## Timeline

*Main Article: Timeline of the Second Southambian Civil War*

### Establishment of the Confederation Agreement

*See Also: Confederation Agreement*

The Confederation Agreement was established by Stapton, Braston, and Heyleswest in 95;2E, a year before the 96;2E Southambian Magistracy Election. The goal of the Agreement was originally to retaliate against the orders of the Southambian government and demand for higher autonomy, but has evolved into full independence of the Agreement, the month following the election. When it was first established, a government was convened in Stapton, the first Leader of the Agreement was Grimolf Bjorgulfsson, a member of the Resolution Movement.

Before the threat of civil war, the National Democratic Party participated in the agreement's election, however following the beginning of the civil war, the party membership of those involved with the agreement were revoked and banned from future membership. Because of this affiliation, several protests have called for the PND to be brought to justice for it's involvement with the agreement. In some protests, rioting became infrequent, and several people have been injured, with more arrested.

### Confederation government couped, and war begins

*See also: Audun Holmgavtsson*

Preceeding the start of the civil war, Grimolf Bjorgulfsson, was couped by Audun Holmgavtsson, a member of the Sovereignty Movement, following a replacement vote by the Agreement's diet. Audun dissolved the diet, and banned the Resolution Movement. Audun later appointed a 6-member interim diet consisting solely of members of the Sovereignty Movement.

## Belligerents

### Government Forces

#### Southambian Armed Forces

*See Also: Southambian Army*

The Southambian Armed Forces are the main supporting force for the Southambian Government. It is estimated to be sized around 8,000 members. Minister of War, and Internal Security, Anthony Velasco, is credited with quickly growing the Force's size within the first week of the week thanks to conscription efforts.

#### Stotfordian National Guard

*See Also: Stotford National Guard*

Despite stagnant relations with the Southambian Government continue to exist, Stotford and its National Guard, pledged allegiance to the Southambian Government in hopes of achieving more autonomy and eventually independence once the war is over. The National Guard is estimated to be sized around 4,000 members. The Stotfordian National Guard was eventually called to service by Leonard Godsforth, and Ottfried Vasary chose to personally lead the guard that was headed for the Confederation Agreement. The Guard saw several victories against the Confederation helping keep the tide of the war in Southambia's favour.

### Separatists and Revolts

#### Confederation Agreement

*See Also: Confederation Agreement*

The Confederation Agreement are the main separatist forces vying for independence. Located in Southeast Southambia, it's population is extremely small, only coming in around 22,513 total. As such, it's armed force is small, and it's size is mainly supplied by The Answer, Loyalists fighting alongside the Agreement. The size of the Agreement's armed forces was estimated to be 1,100 near the start of the war, but has since gone down to less than 400.

#### The Answer

*See Also: The Answer*

The Answer are a Neo-Loyalist terrorist group whose tactics rely on guerrilla, and swift warfare. Unlike the Agreement, The Answer is not a separatist organization, instead seeking to overthrow the Southambian Government and instate a One-Party Autocracy. The exact size of The Answer is unknown, as many Loyalists are not in organized groups, but the size is estimated to be around 3,000. The Answer disagrees with the idea of Separatism, and has stated that it will take forcibly over the Agreement if it is to gain independence, and The Answer comes into power. On Aged Star 7, 98;2E, The Answer pulled it's alliance with the Confederation Agreement, and stopped fighting alongside them. This came as a result of several meetings between provinical The Answer leaders and the government of the Confederation, broke down.

#### Minor Loyalist Groups

Several minor Loyalist organizations fight alongside the Agreement, and The Answer, however several counts of infighting among these groups vying for power has occurred. The most significant of these is the National Salvation Group, which is a group whose main ideology is the recreation of the Southambian Empire, and likewise the dissolution of the democratic process, and the establishment of a hereditary autocracy.

### Foreign Involvement

#### Axrorough

*See Also: Axrorough-Southambia relations*

Though neither Axrorough, or Southambia are in a formal alliance, the two have formed a defensive pact. This pact was honoured by Axrorough, when a week after the war began, it joined the war aiding the Southambian Government and it's Armed Forces. Sometime before the surrender of the Staptonese government led by Sigguatr Selkollrsson, Axrorough in a meeting with Southambian mutually agreed that Axrorough is no longer needed to support Southambian war efforts and can withdraw it's support. This meeting between the two nations was deemed as necessary as to not sour the closely-built relations between the two states. Throughout the war, Axrorough primarily sent military aides instead of soldiers, stating :

> "The war in Southambia is not between our people, and so we shall not sacrifice lives, but we must sacrifice the knowledge and experience we have to help our friends in need against a peasant's revolt!".
>
>

#### Bordering Tribal States

Several tribal states bordering both Southambia and the Confederacy mostly chose to stay out of the war, though some chose to fight for Southambia. Several tribal leaders rose concerns over the possibility of an imperialist Confederacy that would threaten their existence and culture if they were to have gained independence. These fears led to the public in tribal states supporting the more liberal Southambian government over the more conservative Confederation government.