Sanaman Civil War

Sanaman Civil War
Date 1 Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1698 AN – present Location Cisamarra, Amarra, Sanilla, Thanatos, Highpass, Shimmerspring, So Sara, Thanidor Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Democratic Republic of Sanama Sanaman Army Sanaman Air Force Sanaman Navy Kalisa Rrumëli Support  Benacia Command	Sanaman Federation of People's Republics Cisamarran PR Amarran PR West Sanillan PR East Sanillan PR Estarisan PR So Saran PR Thanatossian PR Highpassian PR People's Defence Forces People's Army People's Navy People's Air Force People's Public Protection and Safety Service Support Shireroth: Covert support, especially to the East Sanillan DPR Zeed: Military hardware, vehicles	Benacian Republic of Amarr Highpass and Sanilla Democratic Humanist Party  N&H Vanguard Group 2nd Vanguard Division () 3rd Vanguard Division () 9th Vanguard Division () 11th Vanguard Division () 14th Vanguard Division (} Support / Benacian Union
Commanders and leaders
Keysa Nur Pinito Caprici  Piter Smith Qali  Rhilo Yunato Catenucci  Andrea Bombaccja  Winthrop Fairclough  Yani Ffune Puli  Kaliso Pato  Malliki Puniso  Carlotta Campagnola  Gotthard Merriweather  George Norlyville  David Kamira	Muqana Soke Kiko Kulahi	Jasmina Hosseini
Strength
550,000 regular forces (V.1698)	875,000 militia and revolutionary fighters (V.1698)	175,000 Vanguards
Casualties and losses
12,267 Army soldiers	20,882 militia members	1 dog

The Rice Riots of 1697 transitioned into the Sanaman Civil War in Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1698 following the Malliki Tosha Plaza Massacre and a general breakdown of the government's ability to maintain public order, leading to the national government losing effective control over large parts of the country, leaving large swaths of both urban and rural territory in the hands of various armed militias, most notably those aligned with the Peoples' Front and those aligned with the Democratic Humanist Party. In IV.1700 Sanaman authorities revealed that several SDP sympathisers working in military intelligence had been identified and arrested. The authorities noted that the treason was limited to a few isolated incidents. However, anonymous sources within the military painted a completely different picture, stressing that rebel collaboration was rampant, especially within military intelligence and strategic planning. The problem was so extensive that planners had started transitioning back to hand drawn paper maps sent by courier to try to maintain mission integrity.

Background

Factions

Democratic Republic of Sanama

The elected national government of Sanama, led by Chancellor Keysa Nur Pinito Caprici from the United Nationalist Alliance. The national government was composed of the United Nationalist Alliance and the Democratic Humanist Party until the 1697 Sanaman attempted military coup d'état where the leadership of the DHP was a co-conspirator. Since the government was still technically a transitional one, Nur Pinito Caprici was not allowed to appoint new ministers to the replace the DHP defectors, leaving the Council of State overworked and overstretched. The fractured nature of the government controlled territory, middling morale in the reduced and underpayed military and many SDP and DHP sympathisers in its ranks, led to the military suffering from desertion and defection from day one.

Supported by the Raspur Pact.

Sanaman Federation of People's Republics

The proto-polity organised by the Sanamati Democratic Party to fight against the national government and the DHP. The stated goal of the SFPR was the liberation of Sanama and the establishment of a communalist, socialist, feminist and ecological democratic state. Led by the Sanamati Democratic Party and its allies in the Peoples' Front, at the outset of the war the federation consisted of eight democratic people's republics. The republics controlled limited and discontinuous territories across Sanama, often surrounded by government and Humanist territories. Early in the war, rebel forces were loosely organised into combat units consisting of 1,000 fighters, which in turn were grouped into Combat Groups of five Combat Units. The units and groups had barebones staff coordinating combat operations within their area, without a formalised command structure. No overall command of the People's Defence Forces existed during most of the war, although coordination and communication between the PRs increased over time.

Members of the federation at the onset of the war:

• Amarran People's Republic
• Cisamarran People's Republic
• East Sanillan People's Republic
• Estarisan People's Republic
• Highpassian People's Republic
• So Saran People's Republic
• Thanatossian People's Republic
• West Sanillan People's Republic

Covert support from Shireroth for the East Sanillan PR via Clans Naśećyže'u and Yliekimśhu. Support from Zeed in the form of sale of military hardware, mostly armoured vehicles.

Benacian Republic of Amarr, Highpass and Sanilla

The umbrella polity for the areas controlled and organised by the Democratic Humanist Party. After having shed the democratic veneer imposed by Jasmina Hosseini to make the party electable in Sanama, the DHP fell completely in line with the N&H policies in the Benacian Union, currying their favour and support. Initially very successful, particularly in northern and western Highpass, but as the war went on, more and more beleaguered elsewhere. Support in the form of weapons, vehicles, money and volunteers flowed over the border from the UGB, but rarely reached beyond Highpass due to the fractured nature of the areas under DHP control. Managed to in some instances make strategic alliances with other entities. Supported by the N&H Vanguard divisions participating in the N&H Field Camp in Highpass.

The following entities made up the BRAHS at the beginning of the civil war:

• Central Governorate
• Democratic Humanist Republic of Highpass
• Eastern Governorate
• Humanist Republic of Richmond

Supported by the Benacian Union. Additionally, N&H cadres in mainland Drak-Modan who had not reached the evacuation point in Twoggle prior to the Shirerithian takeover were instructed to relocate to the Eastern Governorate as best they were able, so as to reinforce the regional sector cadre there.

Other entities

Five other entities controlled territory in Sanama shortly after the onset of the war. Dubbed the Nationalists, all five entities identified as nationalist and separatist. To a varying degree, all the territories under their control were havens for drug and weapons smuggling and human trafficking. Local leaders espoused democratic ideals in public, but ruled their territories as personal fiefdoms. The Laq Republic early struck a deal with the East Sanillan DPR for a strategic non-aggression agreement, allowing both factions to focus their attention on fighting the government and the Humanists.

• County of Thanatos
• Democratic Republic of Thanidor
• Laq Republic
• Republic of Cisamarra (until 10.IX.1698)
• Republic of Shimmerspring

Covert support from Shireroth for the Laq Republic via Clan Moel.

Events

Prelude

Factional control at the outset of the war.

The Rice Riots transitioned into the civil war in Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1698, with Peoples' Front and Democratic Humanist Party militias forming and taking over large areas of Sanama, with the stated intent of guaranteeing public safety and order. The dominant party in the PF, the Sanaman Liberation Front (revolutionary) changed name to the Sanamati Democratic Party (Tatawal Koslhen Sharamyaya Sanamati), with "Sanamati" being a neologism meaning "Sanaman person" in the wider sense of a citizen of the Sanaman state. At the same time, the TKSS assumed supreme guidanceship over the Peoples' Front, with the other parties becoming entities within the wider TKSS. The TKSS also established several democratic people's republics across Sanama to organise the struggle against the government and other militias, while providing services and a governing framework for the areas under its control.

The communalist groups formed around the TKSS coalesced into a growing popular movement, where more and more people joined the revolutionary forces. Many sympathisers also engaged in other ways, such as organising citizen's committees, local public safety groups, supply runs, and other kinds of direct and indirect support. The various groups soon consolidated a number of areas under their control. The Cisamarran Democratic People's Republic formed in the west, from Porcavacca on the Napole peninsula all the way up and past Acquecalde, bordering in the east to the Amarran DPR, controlling much of the Amarran coast and large parts of Fatehpur Sikri. In the south and southeast, the Western and Eastern Sanillan DPR's formed with a combined leadership, controlling four separate areas. The western part formed in and around Niyi, the central around Soli and Rhan, the eastern from Pakor City and eastwards, while the fourth area was the entire island of Kayalëkada. Local uprisings in Brightown and New Woodshire in Thanatos quickly formed the Thanatossian DPR, and in Highpass the Highpassian DPR formed centered on Abermeade. The final DPR formed on So Sara and Gehenn after local Yardistani farmers joined the communalist cause against oppressive government and fascism. Simultaneously old civil service cadres, leftover Shirerithian administrative cadres and downsized military personnel joined the Democratic Humanist Party, taking over three smaller pockets in Amarra and Sanilla: one centered on Richmond and Gardenholm, one stretching across central Sanilla and one centered on Pinito City. The most successful Humanist entity was though the Democratic Humanist Republic of Highpass, controlling most of northern, central and western Highpass, owing much of its success to active support from the Benacian Union. The surrender of Rhodondra was a particularly embarrassing debacle for the Sanaman government. In Cisamarra, Thanatos, Z and Thanidor, so-called "Democratic Republics" were also formed. These were however little more than gangs controlled by local strongmen seizing the opportunity when the national government was engaged elsewhere. The democratic republics would prove throughout the war to be havens for drug and arms smuggling and human trafficking.

Developments

The Battle of Niyi commenced on 21 Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1698, when government forces launched a pincer attack targeting the strategically important railway hub in Sanestira, with the intent of cutting off SDPR transports between the north and the south of the SDPR. In response, the SDPR scrambled defences and launched a surprise attack from west of Hala City towards Neliko, aimed at cutting off supply lines between government-controlled western Niyi and Port Niyi. The battle, or rather series of battles, turned out to be the fiercest yet in the Sanaman Civil War. The fight over Niyi, Sanama's most populous metropolitan area and the cultural and economic center of the country, came to an end on 15.XI.1698, with a massive victory for the rebel forces, from then on organised as the People's Defence Forces. The surrender of several Army units at the end of major hostilities in Niyi considerably weakened the Sanaman Army in general and western Sanilla in particular. The PDF also seized Atesira and Lluson garrisons as well as Niyi Air Force Base, resulting in a considerable boost to the PDF in western Sanilla.

The First Western Offensive was launched on 13 Puwha Amerhali (VIII) 1698, when rebel forces affiliated with the Cisamarran PR attacked Army units in Porto Napole and western Cisamarra. The rebels had received several shipments of domestic vehicles as well as Zeedic imports via the Amarran PR. The government forces in Porto Napole had a distinct disadvantage, since they consisted almost exclusively of naval security personnel with limited ground combat experience and equipment. With reinforcements across the line and mustered locals, the Army managed to almost match the rebel forces in quantity. The offensive was a moderate victory for the rebels, after taking much of government-controlled Cisamarra, except for Rosaria and Telljano. After a mutiny and defection in the command of Porto Napole Air Force Base, the base and parts of the city were taken by the rebels. A limited ceasefire was declared on 11 Puwha Mongkoli (IX) 1698.

Territorial control in Cisamarra, 10.IX.1698.

Simultaneously, the Democratic Republic of Cisamarra, controlling much of central and northern Cisamarra and feeling an increased encirclement due to movements in the south, launched an offensive against the government-controlled area around Santo Cretomano and the garrison there on 21 Puwha Amerhali (VIII) 1698. The DRC forces also pushed south until they clashed with PDF units. The DRC immediately suffered pushback, losing ground to both the government and the PDF. With the government push on their southern flank, the DRC risked getting cut in two. Meanwhile, the DRC pushed hard on the western flank gaining ground into PDF controlled territory. The DRC offensive quickly turned out to be a gross miscalculation, when the Sanaman Army broke through all the way to the Tellian border, and the PDF smashed the western flank and encircled Brescja. On 7 Puwha Mongkoli (IX) 1698 the DRC sent requests for ceasefire to both the government and the PDF, but both were immediately rejected. Instead the PDF defeated the forces defending Brescja, while the Army pulled one unit back to defend the Santo Cretomano Garrison. With the conquest of Brescja, the campaign became a race for Fenicottero. On 10 Puwha Mongkoli (IX) 1698 the DRC forces defending the capital Fenicottero were defeated by the Army, with the government regaining control over the city and the remaining parts of the DRC. The Cisamarran People's Republic kept control over Brescja and the areas west and southwest of the city. Several secession leaders were arrested and shipped to Semisa City. This campaign proved to be one of the most ill-advised during the entire civil war.

Territorial control, western Sanilla, 16.XV.1698

On 16 Puwha Yuhali (XV) 1698 Army units out of Port Niyi and Neliko launched an attack to the northeast to push PDF forces back behind the lakes previously serving as the border between government-controlled and rebel controlled areas. For once taking the rebels somewhat off guard, the Army succeed in gaining some ground, but was unexpectedly marred down by defection in certain critical units, such as artillery and battlefield intelligence. The problem was compounded by a government still struggling to pay decent wages to the military, while the rebels controlled the economic center of the country, Niyi. The defending rebel units were reinforced from Niyi, after the rebels successfully scaled up their recruitment efforts. The reinforced rebels managed to regain the lost ground, and emboldened by this turn in luck, expanded the battle across the front between Port Niyi and Sentora. This forced the Army to redeploy units from across their controlled territories as well as quickly raise supporting mustered infantry. The PDF however quickly gained ground, getting closer and closer to both Port Niyi and Neliko, threatening to shut the Army completely out of western and southwestern Sanilla, as well as getting dangerously close to the important naval base in Port Niyi. It was at this point, on 2 Puwha Pupawli (I) 1699, that the Bordwell Mutiny rocked the Sanaman government and military to its core. The Vice Chief of the Admiralty Amiral Charles Bordwell defected to the rebels, ultimately taking about 70 percent of the Sanaman Navy with him, and taking control of the naval base in Port Niyi after hours of intense fighting. In less than four days the People's Defence Force gained a massive naval branch, tentatively dubbed the People's Navy. The new naval forces gained by the PDF turned the tide in southwestern Sanilla, with forces pushing west and defected units pushing east from Port Niyi Naval Base, supported by naval artillery. Meanwhile, the gains of the PDF cut off government units further south from supplies. The final shot was fired on 5 Puwha Pakali (III) 1699, when the PDF defeated the final army contigent in Port Niyi.

As a result of the loss of Port Niyi, the Army attacked the Central Governorate on 13 Puwha Pakali (III) 1699, to connect the government-controlled areas from Semisa City to Puri Xalene with the area stretching from east of Niyi to Susston. The Humanist forces were largely caught off guard, since they had been relatively spared from attacks so far during the civil war. The Army outnumbered the Humanists completely, and with the isolated nature of the Central Governorate, as well as the lack of popular support and small recruiting base, the Humanists never managed to put up much of a fight. The campaign concluded on 11 Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1699 with the conquest of Telarha and the arrest of the local Humanist leadership. Coordinated with the attack on the Central Governorate, the Army also moved against the Humanist Republic of Richmond in an effort to connect their controlled areas in Amarra together. The Army quickly conquered large areas in the west and northeast, while the Humanists managed to stall the attack in the defence of Ranti Lloperat. The Army transitioned into a siege after having completed their primary objective in connecting their three areas.

Territorial control in Sanama, 1.VII.1699

On 23 Puwha Kawlapali (IV) 1699 the garrison in Sharisa defected to the PDF, allowing the East Sanillan DPR to connect its two exclaves. Following that as well as several moves across the nation to claim uncontested land, there followed a period of minor skirmishes along lines of control, while all factions consolidated their positions.