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North Africa

French Republic

^{Flag of the Kingdom of France}

^{Flag after the Métropole is reclaimed}

Official Name: French Republic, French State (Redressement Français), Kingdom of France (Bourbons restored), French Empire (Louis Bonaparte crowned as Emperor)

Ruling Party: Gouvernement Militaire Provisoire - Pétain's Faction^note In the aftermath of the Exile, the Republic fell into a period of parliamentary chaos. To restore order, the Lion of Verdun Marshal Pétain stepped in, being elected Head of State, forming a broad coalition government and declaring a temporary state of emergency giving the government, and the military, broad powers to ensure the stability of the nation. This 'Temporary Military Government' has now lasted more than a decade and though the Marshal maintains the illusion of democratic life, few are foolish enough to believe the parliament could impose anything on Philippe Pétain. The thinly veiled junta is still popular but slowly losing political credibility as it slips into autocracy, mostly held together by the prestige of the Lion. Surrounding the Marshal is a clique of loyalists who owe everything to the hero of Verdun and staunchly believe he is the right man to lead France to victory.

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

The French Third Republic was completely demoralized by Germany's 1919 Spring Offensive. After several mutinies, protests, and strikes, the nation fell to total revolution after the outrageous Treaty of Versailles. The old government and its elites fled to Algeria, while Germany seized France's other colonies according to the terms of Versailles.
In exile, the government descended into further instability, and Marshal Philippe Pétain stepped in in 1926 to form an emergency army government. In 1936, the country has a laundry list of problems: Pétain's junta is autocratic and repressive, and its North African territories are worthless and rebellious. But above all, looms the question of how, or if, National France can return home...

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• Allohistorical Allusion: The treaty that ended World War I in harsh, humiliating conditions for France is called the Treaty of Versailles, sharing the name with the treaty that ended World War I in harsh, humiliating conditions for Germany in real life. After the Third Republic fell to a socialist revolution, its loyalists came to believe in the stab-in-the-back theory, according to which the true causes of the defeat are political, and that the peace accepted by the government was a testament to its weakness, just like what the Nazis did in real life.
• Arch-Enemy: To the Commune of France, since the very existence of one of these states is a challenge to the legitimacy of the other.
• Bait-and-Switch: Regarding democracy; letting General Mordacq take charge in an emergency government actually gives National France a greater chance at genuine democratization than forming the Union Sacrée. Mordacq is ultimately truthful in his pro-democracy beliefs and steps down as soon as the Métropole is liberated. The Union Sacrée, while seemingly the more democratic option, has a strong chance to empower de La Rocque, who can choose to launch a surprise coup and become the new military dictator of France after the liberation.
• Book Ends: The French Third Republic began and ended in the exact same way: defeated by German forces and facing radical left-wing insurrection at home. The difference is that this time, the Republic was defeated by the revolution and forced to flee.
• Les Collaborateurs: Most traditional indigenous elites are still loyal to France, and there exists a growing class of French-educated natives and native war veterans who, despite wanting reform, remain loyal.
• Conscription: In order to deal with the military's shortage of Frenchmen after their defeat and exile, National France can instate conscription for native Algerians, at a risk of sedition from these new units.
• Deal with the Devil: If Germany successfully defeats the Commune of France, they can offer to re-install the National French government in metropolitan France, in return for them joining the Reichspakt (as well as permanently waiving their claims to Alsace-Lorraine). The Entente is understandably displeased if this occurs.
• Evil Colonialist: Under the guise of modernisation and spread of civilisation, National France exploits the colonial populace for resources, and cuts them off from power, relegating them to either suffering the French yoke or enforcing it. Unrest is ruthlessly put down, and famines are badly managed. Thousands of natives can be sent to their deaths so the exiled French elite could reclaim a birthright that never had anything to do with the natives at the first place. To say that the Code of the Indigenous has created resentment would be an understatement.
• Evil Reactionary: National France's ruling class consists of reactionary elites bitter about their defeat in the Weltkrieg and their flight from home following syndicalist revolution, and is willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of indigenous North Africans so they could 'liberate' France, bring back the Republic, and reclaim their status.
• Foreign Ruling Class: National France is an apartheid state where white French settlers and exiles hold all power, despite only making a small minority of the population. The natives, though nominally considered Frenchmen, are essentially second-class citizens, subject to heavy taxes, forced labour and service in the armed forces.
• Government in Exile: National France is the remnant of the French Third Republic, which was overthrown in the French Revolution of 1919. They escaped to their colonial possession of Algeria, and still claims all of metropolitan France (currently they only hold Algeria, Corsica, and the northern parts of French West Africa and French Chad), plotting to overthrow the Commune of France and return to power.
• Historical Villain Downgrade: Numerous figures in the National French government, like Philippe Pétain and Pierre-Étienne Flandin, were involved with the Vichy regime in real life. While they cannot collaborate with Nazis in a timeline where Nazism doesn't exist, they are still high-ranking politicians in a colonial empire that massively exploits the rightful owners of the lands they're squatting on after being overthrown in a popular uprising.
• Legion of Lost Souls: To entice more soldiers into the army, National France spins propaganda, promising increased conditions and rights for those who enlist within the Foreign Legion to fight and liberate France.
• Offered the Crown: What's left of the old French government can decide that Democracy Is Bad or it's flawed and the reconquest of metropolitan France would be better under a strong ruler and government, represented by a monarch.
• Off with His Head!: If National France defeats the Commune, they condemn many high-profile Communard politicians of treason, sedition, conspiracy against France, corruption and many more crimes, and can put all of them to death at the hands of Madame la Guillotine.
• La Résistance: Few natives are content with French oppression, and French rule is especially tenuous in the more remote regions of the empire, such as the Sahara and Sahel. Native resistance will be funded and armed by the Republic's enemies, and should the player be incapable of managing it, revolts will break out.
• Rightful King Returns: In two different flavors. National France can restore either the Orleanist branch of the Bourbon house (led by Jean, Duke of Guise) or the Bonaparte house (led by Napoléon VI). If the Bonapartes rise to power the country will be renamed to the French Empire and if the Bourbons return it will be the Kingdom of France.
• Unknown Rival: While Canada has a fairly good position and starting industry to build up its strength, is relatively stable politically, and has the Atlantic Ocean keeping them out of the Internationale's reach, National France has very little in terms of industry or resources, have to deal with the hostile natives who massively outnumber their French citizens in almost every territory they own besides Corsica, and only have the Mediterranean separating them from the syndicalists (and if the CNT wins the Spanish civil war, they may not even have that). Luckily for them, the Commune has bigger threats to deal with, like Germany.
• Western Terrorists: The members of the Organisation des Quatres-Cents Coups, which is made of Action Française's most radical wing, are willing to resort to intimidation, assassination or even bombings to silence their enemies.
• Worthy Opponent: Despite everything else, Philippe Pétain and his political opponent Henri Mordacq respect and admire each other.

Philippe Pétain

^{Pétain as head of the Redressement français}

Role: President^note Country Leader

Party: Gouvernement Militaire Provisoire - Pétain's Faction^note In the aftermath of the Exile, the Republic fell into a period of parliamentary chaos. To restore order, the Lion of Verdun Marshal Pétain stepped in, being elected Head of State, forming a broad coalition government and declaring a temporary state of emergency giving the government, and the military, broad powers to ensure the stability of the nation. This 'Temporary Military Government' has now lasted more than a decade and though the Marshal maintains the illusion of democratic life, few are foolish enough to believe the parliament could impose anything on Philippe Pétain. The thinly veiled junta is still popular but slowly losing political credibility as it slips into autocracy, mostly held together by the prestige of the Lion. Surrounding the Marshal is a clique of loyalists who owe everything to the hero of Verdun and staunchly believe he is the right man to lead France to victory., Redressement Français^note In his hour of need, Marshal Pétain was contacted by a group calling itself the 'French Renewal', who helped him resolve the crisis, bringing a new ideological thrust to the regime. Part employers’ association, part think tank, part propaganda arm of the forward-minded industrialists, they are intent on 'bringing together the elites and educating the masses'. Advocating for a reorganisation and 'streamlining' of the administration and political system, and greater care of the upper classes for the 'social question', they stand for class collaboration, strong property rights, and greater involvement of 'patriotic industrialists and intellectuals' in policy-making through specialised commissions. They are sceptical of traditional parliamentary democracy that they consider bloated and in part responsible for the revolution; in short, they are technocratic, condescendingly paternalistic, and corporatist. (Révolution Nationale)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

Philippe Pétain, "The Lion of Verdun", leads National France from their exile in North Africa. The Marshal had witnessed the mutiny within his own ranks and the collapse of the French Third Republic, and his heart is filled with the desire for revenge. While the day of national liberation is nowhere in sight, the Lion of Verdun is determined: he would rather die before he gives up.

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• Allohistorical Allusion: If Pétain's corruption grows out of control, supporters of democracy can begin a Opération Toccata where Pierre Lelong, a security officer, will enter a meeting with Pétain and others with a briefcase filled with explosives. After excusing himself for the bathroom, the bomb goes off and kills many in the room. Notably, Pétain and de Gaulle initially survive the blast, but Lelong manually kills both with a rifle. This is a very clear allusion to Operation Valkyrie, Claus von Stauffenberg's unsuccessful attempt to kill Adolf Hitler in real life.
• Cult of Personality: If he decides to centralise power, Pétain paints himself as a man who gives himself entirely to France and her people, like a caring patriarch, firm but loving, experienced and ready to make all the sacrifices for his family. The Marshal who has led France through the storm of the exile will continue to do so until the Patrie is reborn, the French nation finally truly united behind him.
• Emergency Authority: In the aftermath of the Republic's exile, Pétain declared a state of emergency, granting the government and the military broad powers to stabilise the nation, which has lasted for more than a decade.
• Evil Old Folks: At 80 years old, Pétain is one of the oldest leaders in the world, and the dictator of a borderline-totalitarian colonial state that rabidly oppresses its native peoples.
• Historical In-Joke: Should Pétain appoint no successor to Franchet d'Espèrey and decide to centralise power around himself, the French Republic will be transformed into the French State, which was the official name of the Vichy regime led by Pétain himself in real life, with the same motto: 'Travail, Famille, Patrie'.
• Military Coup: In 1926, Philippe Pétain formed a junta and since then has ruled with an iron fist: as head of state and supreme commander of the French armed forces, he has near total control over France.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Should Pétain appoint de Gaulle as successor to Franchet d'Espèrey, he'll crack down on the pro-Mordacq Reformist faction within the military in an attempt to secure the future of his protégé. This goes poorly, bolstering all opponents of Marshal out of sheer outrage, forcing him to accept the Action Française's offer to provide media backing and the help of their paramilitary, as well as shadier dealings from intimidation to assassination and even bombings. Deeply shocked by the brutality of the crackdown he ordered, Pétain eventually retires and lets de Gaulle gain more power.
• The Purge: If Pétain names de Gaulle his successor, he'll arrest Henri Mordacq and attempt to silence his supporters within the armed forces, fearing his influence and links to the more democratically-minded elites. This will go badly, leading the army to protest in the streets and eventually forcing the Marshal to retire in favour of de Gaulle.
• Red Baron: Just like in real life, Pétain is known as the Lion of Verdun, or the Lion for short.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: If the Redressement Français is empowered, Pétain's portrait will change.

Charles de Gaulle

Role: Military Commander, Vice-President of the Military Council^note Second in Command (Pétain cabinet, De Gaulle favored), Country Leader (De Gaulle favored or De Gaulle's coup), Second in Command (Monarchy restored)

Party: Action Française^note Founded in 1899, the French Action is a nationalist, royalist, integralist group. Its ideology can be summarised with one quote by Charles Maurras, its most influential theorist: 'In order to love France today, it is necessary to hate what she has become.' The aim of the Integralists is nothing less than the fall of the Republic and the establishment of an integralist state: an absolute, hereditary, anti-parliamentary, reactionary, counter-revolutionary, heavily decentralised, corporatist, and above all Catholic monarchy, protective of local identities and modelled after the traditional institutions of the Kingdom of France. Though it couldn’t be called a party, after all the group openly advocates for a coup d’état and has never participated in elections, the AF has created a surprisingly broad network of influence among Catholics radicalised by the anticlerical violence of the revolution, in intellectual circles, and, most importantly, within the military.

Ideology: National Populism

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• The Coup: De Gaulle will attempt a coup against Pétain if he favors Mordacq.
• Evil Reactionary: De Gaulle is a member of the Action Française and shares their desire to re-create France's pre-1789 absolute monarchy, completely rejecting the liberal and democratic ideals of the Republic and the French Revolution.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: In real life, de Gaulle led the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946 and later served as President of France from 1959 to 1969. Here he is an avowed supporter of the anti-democratic and antisemitic Action Française and after succeeding Pétain he will restore a Kingdom of France based on the Ancien Régime before handing power to King Jean III, becoming his Prime Minister.

Jean III d'Orléans

Role: Monarch^note Country Leader (De Gaulle, Monarchy restored)

Party: Action Française^note Founded in 1899, the French Action is a nationalist, royalist, integralist group. Its ideology can be summarised with one quote by Charles Maurras, its most influential theorist: 'In order to love France today, it is necessary to hate what she has become.' The aim of the Integralists is nothing less than the fall of the Republic and the establishment of an integralist state: an absolute, hereditary, anti-parliamentary, reactionary, counter-revolutionary, heavily decentralised, corporatist, and above all Catholic monarchy, protective of local identities and modelled after the traditional institutions of the Kingdom of France. Though it couldn’t be called a party, after all the group openly advocates for a coup d’état and has never participated in elections, the AF has created a surprisingly broad network of influence among Catholics radicalised by the anticlerical violence of the revolution, in intellectual circles, and, most importantly, within the military.

Ideology: National Populism

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• Feudal Overlord: King Jean's power is not limited by a constitution, but by a tradition called the Fundamental Laws. He is not an absolutist like Louis XIV, his power comes from divine right, is not something you can deny and he generally has the final say, however he swears to abide by a number of principles. In practice, the King has absolute power that he 'chooses' to devolve absolutely to regional parliaments, all the way down to local village councils, using his authority to take care of what no other could, like the armed forces or diplomacy, and whenever he is appealed to.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Jean III's government is anti-parliament, pro-absolute monarchy, and profoundly against the ideals of the Third Republic, but he is the only leader of National France who can grant rights to the natives of French Africa.
• Offered the Crown: If Action Française takes power, they can offer to restore the monarchy and crown Jean as King of France.
• Politically Correct Villain: Jean III is an autocrat fundamentally opposed to republicanism and democracy, but he also does something no other leader of National France can do: elevating African natives in society to more or less the same station as their white French peers. One of the events that fires in the immediate months after his coronation narrates the appearance of African aristocrats in National French society, highlighting this new equality.
• The Purge: King Jean conducts a mass purge of Republican supporters from the police, the military, the Deuxième Bureau and the former Parliament.
• Rightful King Returns: Jean III is a great-grandson of Louis Philippe I, the Orléanist King of France who was overthrown in the revolution of 1848. If Charles de Gaulle succeeds Philippe Pétain, he'll eventually crown Jean III and restore the Kingdom of France.

Henri VI

Role: Monarch^note Country Leader (Jean III succession or SWR Germany restores monarchy in puppet France)

Party: Action Française^note Founded in 1899, the French Action is a nationalist, royalist, integralist group. Its ideology can be summarised with one quote by Charles Maurras, its most influential theorist: 'In order to love France today, it is necessary to hate what she has become.' The aim of the Integralists is nothing less than the fall of the Republic and the establishment of an integralist state: an absolute, hereditary, anti-parliamentary, reactionary, counter-revolutionary, heavily decentralised, corporatist, and above all Catholic monarchy, protective of local identities and modelled after the traditional institutions of the Kingdom of France. Though it couldn’t be called a party, after all the group openly advocates for a coup d’état and has never participated in elections, the AF has created a surprisingly broad network of influence among Catholics radicalised by the anticlerical violence of the revolution, in intellectual circles, and, most importantly, within the military., Parti d'Union Sociale^note Social Union Party (German Puppet France)

Ideology: National Populism (National France), Paternal Autocracy (German Puppet France)

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• The Quisling: If Germany under the SWR forms its own French puppet, Henri can be offered the throne to lead the restored, yet puppeted, Kingdom.

Henri Mordacq

Role: Military Commander, Vice-President of the Military Council^note Second in Command (Pétain cabinet, Mordacq favored), President^note Country Leader (Union Sacrée or Mordacq's coup)

Party: Gouvernement Militaire Provisoire - Mordacq's Faction^note In the aftermath of the Exile, the Republic fell into a period of parliamentary chaos. To restore order, the Lion of Verdun Marshal Pétain stepped in, being elected Head of State, forming a broad coalition government and declaring a temporary state of emergency giving the government, and the military, broad powers to ensure the stability of the nation. This 'Temporary Military Government' has now lasted more than a decade and though the Marshal maintains the illusion of democratic life, few are foolish enough to believe the parliament could impose anything on Philippe Pétain. The thinly veiled junta is still popular but slowly losing political credibility as it slips into autocracy, mostly held together by the prestige of the Lion. Some within the regime refuse to accept the status quo however, chief among them Henri Mordacq who believes deep reform of the military and further mobilisation of the nation is necessary., Comité de Salut National^note In the aftermath of the crisis, President Mordacq has decided to assemble a Committee of National Salvation, made up of military men, political figures, and experts, to better prepare France for the coming war to reconquer the mainland without being hindered by the potential chaos of democracy and ideology. However, the Bear has repeatedly clarified that this truly is a temporary measure, and that as soon as the Métropole is freed from the grasps of the Communards, he will step down and restore full democracy and parliamentary life. In the meantime, in-depth political reform will have to wait. (Mordacq's coup), Parti Social Français^note Founded by veterans led by Colonel François de La Rocque after the Exile, the French Social Party is a staunchly conservative, anti-socialist, nationalist, and Catholic party, seeking to reform the Republic away from parliamentarism and towards a more presidential regime, while remaining faithful to democracy and the Republican institutions. The only mass party in French politics, with its own security services, youth organisations, soup kitchens, affiliated unions, charity drives, and even summer camps, the PSF attempts to become an integral part of its members' lives rather than a mere political affiliation and is rapidly growing in popularity. (Union Sacrée), Parti Républicain Démocrate^note The Democratic Republican Party is a center-right party born from the fusion of the Fédération Républicaine and the Alliance Démocratique. Economically liberal, somewhat socially conservative, attached to parliamentarism, and of course anti-socialist, they are broadly Catholic but remain internally divided on the issue of secularism. Its brand of republican, liberal conservatism struggles to reassert itself, tainted by the Defeat and weakened by the depredations of the PSF upon its traditional electorate. (Neutralize the PSF)

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy, Social Conservatism (Union Sacrée), Market Liberalism (Neutralize the PSF)

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• Cincinnatus: Once metropolitan France is reconquered, Mordacq will dissolve the Committee of National Salvation (if he previously formed it), take a well-deserved retirement and fully restore democracy.
• The Coup: If Philippe Pétain decides to centralise power but fails to maintain popular approval, Mordacq can launch a coup, create a Committee of National Salvation made up of officers, experts and parliamentarians, promising an eventual restoration of democracy.
• Emergency Authority: Mordacq forms the Committee of National Salvation to better prepare France for the reconquest of the Métropole without being hindered by the potential chaos of democracy and ideology. However, this truly is a temporary measure; once the Communards are defeated, Mordacq will step down and restore full democracy.
• Internal Reformist: Mordacq is the leader of the reformist clique in the army, and has defended democracy in his writings, though he is certainly willing to temporarily suspend it. If he becomes Pétain's successor and chooses to compromise with the democratic camp, Mordacq will partially restore democracy, appointing a wide coalition government.
• Press-Ganged: Mordacq's Committee of National Salvation massively mobilises and militarises French society, making no distinction between Europeans and natives.
• Reluctant Retiree: Mordacq's military reforms involve the forced retirement of any officer over the age of 56.

François de La Rocque

Role: President of the Council of Ministers^note Second in Command (Mordacq cabinet), President^note Country Leader (Elections)

Party: Parti Social Français^note Founded by veterans led by Colonel François de La Rocque after the Exile, the French Social Party is a staunchly conservative, anti-socialist, nationalist, and Catholic party, seeking to reform the Republic away from parliamentarism and towards a more presidential regime, while remaining faithful to democracy and the Republican institutions. The only mass party in French politics, with its own security services, youth organisations, soup kitchens, affiliated unions, charity drives, and even summer camps, the PSF attempts to become an integral part of its members' lives rather than a mere political affiliation and is rapidly growing in popularity., Parti Social Français - Dirigistes^note Founded by veterans led by Colonel François de La Rocque after the Exile, the French Social Party is a staunchly conservative, anti-socialist, nationalist, and Catholic party, seeking to reform the Republic away from parliamentarism and towards a more presidential regime. The only mass party in French politics, with its own security services, youth organisations, soup kitchens, affiliated unions, charity drives, and even summer camps, the PSF attempts to become an integral party of its members' lives rather than a mere political affiliation. With the absorption of smaller right wing parties, the PSF has become a behemoth different wings. The "Dirigist" wing is an informal group of those who believe that the Republic cannot afford the parliamentary chaos that led to her downfall, and that as such believe that a strong hand is needed in both politics and the economy, though they do not question the need for some form of democratic life. (Democratic presidential system), Parti Social Français - Technocrates^note Founded by veterans led by Colonel François de La Rocque after the Exile, the French Social Party is a staunchly conservative, anti-socialist, nationalist, and Catholic party, seeking to reform the Republic away from parliamentarism and towards a more presidential regime. The only mass party in French politics, with its own security services, youth organisations, soup kitchens, affiliated unions, charity drives, and even summer camps, the PSF attempts to become an integral party of its members' lives rather than a mere political affiliation. With the absorption of smaller right wing parties, the PSF has become a behemoth different wings. The "Technocratic" wing is an informal group of those who believe that France cannot afford any kind of instability if she wants to be reborn from the ashes, and as such are happy to put aside most forms of democratic life aside in favour of a state ruled by experts, in cooperation with the armed forces. (Dictatorial presidential system)

Ideology: Social Conservatism, Authoritarian Democracy (Democratic presidential system), Paternal Autocracy (Dictatorial presidential system)

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• Military Coup: After National France defeats the Commune, President de La Rocque can choose not to call for elections, and seize the nascent state apparatus with the support of elements from the armed forces who believe the situation is still too unstable for a return to democracy. In this case, the President will rule by decree for the foreseeable future, reforming the Republic into a dictatorship where democracy is merely a distant memory.

Louis Bonaparte

^{Bonaparte as a General}

^{Bonaparte as Emperor Napoléon VI}

Role: Military Commander, President^note Country Leader (Elections), Emperor^note Country Leader (Empire restored)

Party: Bloc National^note The National Bloc is a coalition of conservative parties formed after the Reconquest of the Métropole, dominated by the PSF. However, Colonel de La Rocque has had to significantly compromise with the more traditional right wing to cement such a coalition. Though of course conservative, somewhat corporatist, anti-socialist, nationalistic and broadly Catholic, the antiparliamentarian rhetoric of the populist right was greatly moderated by its allies. As such the coalition seeks to reform the Republic into a more rational, pragmatic semi-presidential regime, away from divisive populism, autocracy and unstable parliamentary stagnation.

Ideology: Social Conservatism

Louis Bonaparte is a descendant of the house of Bonaparte, and a candidate for a new Emperor of National France.

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• King Bob the Nth: Prince Louis Bonaparte, being the sixth pretender of the House of Bonaparte to the French throne, takes the regnal name Napoléon VI when crowned Emperor.
• Rightful King Returns: Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte is a descendant of the King of Westphalia Jérôme Bonaparte, Napoleon's youngest brother, and the current head of the Bonaparte dynasty. If he gets elected President of France and reclaims Alsace-Lorraine (which was originally lost by Napoléon III) from Germany, he can be crowned Emperor Napoléon VI after a plebiscite.

Emirate of Cyrenaica

Official Name: Emirate of Cyrenaica

Ruling Party: Al Sanusia^note Senussi Order

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

Founded by the great Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi in 1843, the Senussi Order has become a synonym for the region of Cyrenaica in which it holds sway. Although it is technically a part of the Ottoman Empire and penetration of the Green Mountain by the urban elite of Benghazi is steadily growing, Cyrenaica have been able to maintain it's independence for close to 100 years now. Cyrenaica's relation with the Turks has always been complicated as whilst the nation joined forces in 1911 and 1915, it is abundantly clear that the Porte isn't too keen on an independent administrative body within its domain. Nonetheless when the Weltkrieg ended in an Ottoman victory, the overstretched and bankrupt empire was forced to concede that it didn't have the means to contest Cyrenaica's strengthened post-war status and contended itself with the return of nominal control exercised from its bureaucrats in Benghazi.
Since the end of the war, little has happened in Cyrenaica as the lack of both means and will to change the status-quo prevents any substantial changes. This was to change slightly in 1933 when it's supreme leader, Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi, died of old age leaving his son to take up the reins. The death of this pivotal figure in Cyrenaica's history however has reignited tensions between the pan-Islamic supporters of the late grandmaster and the Senussi Princes looking to the rightful heir, Idris, who went into exile after the Ottoman victory.

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• The Federation: If Cyrenaica conquers Ottoman Libya, it can form a Libyan Federation, consisting of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, in order to keep the strong regionalist feelings of Libyan tribes.
• Occupiers Out of Our Country: The Senussi Order espouses a hardline anti-imperialist stance and has been fighting off Europeans seeking to colonise Libya at every turn for a century.

az-Zubayr bin Ahmad as-Sharif

Role Monarch^note Country Leader

Party: Al Sanusia^note Senussi Order

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Succession Crisis: Although az-Zubayr ascended to the throne without much issue after the death of his father Ahmad, Ahmad himself was never meant to be the leader of the Order and was only keeping the throne occupied until his older brother's son Idris came of age. By 1936, the question of legitimacy is once more coming up.

Idris bin Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi

Role Country Leader (Anti-Ottoman coup)

Party: Muwalu Idris

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy

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• Reluctant Ruler: Idris only wishes to rule over his native Cyrenaica, and doesn't hide his disinterest in Tripolitania, which still remains under Ottoman rule. Nevertheless, he can invade Ottoman Tripolitania to unite Libya, either as a unitary republic or a federation.
• Rightful King Returns: Faced with opposition and uncertain of his own future, Idris was forced to flee Libya for Cairo in 1920, leaving the Ottomans to crown his uncle Ahmad, who was brought back from Constantinople, as emir of Cyrenaica. Since his uncle's death, Idris has been rallying support for his return amongst the Egyptian court.
• Suddenly Significant City: If he reclaims his throne, Idris will move the capital to Giarabub, near the Egyptian border, to affirm his anti-Ottoman stance.

Umar al-Mukhtar

Role Country Leader

Party: Al Sanusia^note Senussi Order

Ideology: National Populism

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• Assassin Outclassin': The Egyptians might resort to poison to get rid of Umar al-Mukhtar in their mission to crown Idris as emir of Cyrenaica. However, if the plot fails, Umar al-Mukhtar's wide network of allies is likely to retaliate.
• Reluctant Ruler: If az-Zubayr's faction finds themselves victorious, the regency council disbands and names Umar al-Mukhtar as regent of az-Zubayr, who still hasn't recovered from the head injury he suffered a few months before. He initially declines the offer, citing his old age and health, until his two close friends convince him otherwise.
• Undying Loyalty: Umar al-Mukhtar is steadfastly loyal to Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi and his son az-Zubayr, and is the greatest obstacle to Idris in reclaiming the leadership of the Senussi Order.

Tripolitania

Official Name: Tripoltanian Republic

Ruling Party: Hizb al-shaeb tarabulus

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy

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• We ARE Struggling Together: In Tripolitania, the anti-Ottoman resistance is broken up in a variety of sometimes feuding, sometimes cooperating parties. As a result, if not invaded by Cyrenaica, Tripolitania remains part of the Ottoman Empire until the Empire collapses.

Sultanate of Egypt

^{Flag of the Egyptian Republic}

Official Name: Sultanate of Egypt, Egyptian Republic (Released by a Non-Monarchist country), Khedivate of Egypt (Ottoman puppet)

Ruling Party: Hizb al-Watani^note Watani Party

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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• Arch-Enemy: To the Ottomans, as Egypt leads the Cairo Pact, an alliance that seeks to liberate the Arab people from domination by the hated Turk.

Central Africa

Mittelafrika

Official Name: German Central Africa

Ruling Party: Reichskolonialamt (Hardliner)^note Imperial Colonial Office

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Balkanize Me: If Mittelafrika's stability drops below -100%, it will collapse and be divided into a multitude of ethno-states, old African kingdoms, Askari warlord states, and remnants of the German colonial government^{Full list of states}Ivory Coast, Kingdom of Ashanti, Togolese Federation, Dahomey, Hausaland, German-controlled Nigeria (which soon collapses into independent rule), Bornu Emirate, Ubangi-Shari, Amadawa Clique, Kamerun, Gabon, Teke Kingdom, Kivu Clique, Kongo, Buganda, Kikuyuland, Zanzibar, Kingdom of Rwanda, Kingdom of Burundi, Tanganjika, Garanganze, Barotseland, Zambia, Nyasaland, Namibland, and Südwestafrika. In a much more downplayed example, if the Reformgruppe comes into power in Mittelafrika, their reforms increase the autonomy of some native kingdoms and British colonist-dominated regions enough that they mechanically become represented as puppets of Mittelafrika rather than part of Mittelafrika.
• Historical Villain Downgrade: One of Mittelafrika's admirals is Reinhard Heydrich, the infamous SS-Obergruppenführer and a major architect of the Holocaust in real life, who has presumably not been removed from the navy like he was OTL.
• Space-Filling Empire: German Central Africa is a massive colony comprising most of the continent's southern half, from the borders of the Sahel all the way south to South African Rhodesia. It's a messy patchwork of tribes, kingdoms, protectorates, and even proud empires whose history stretch back centuries, bound to the German Empire by diplomacy and force alike.
• Timed Mission: At game start, Mittelafrika is a patchwork kingdom bursting at the seams with conflicting agendas, ancient tribal feuds, encroaching foreign interests and old-fashioned mismanagement, reflected in a stacking weekly stability penalty. The only way to stop the stability drop is to complete a long series of focuses built around management reform (reformer path) or allowing independant kingdoms to revolt and then crushing them as they appear (hardliner path), all without causing any outside events to upset the apple cart (even victory in the Bush War can cause this; if Mittelafrika pushes for too much territory, this can cause a huge stability drop due to having to incorporate new and different regions at a time where the colonial government can't even handle what they already have). If they fail, Mittelafrika descends into anarchy and disintegrates, with only Sudwestafrika as the only loyal remaining German landholding.

Karl Ritter

Role: Statthalter^note Country Leader

Party: Reichskolonialamt (Hardliner)^note Imperial Colonial Office

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• The Alleged Boss: Type 3. After taking the position Ritter initially hoped to break this status quo of a land subject to the whims of the various military cliques but despite being in charge on paper he is ignored. By 1936 he has largely abandoned these efforts.

Collapse of Mittelafrika

Südwestafrika

Official Name: German South-West Africa

Ruling Party: Südwestafrikanische Kolonialgesellschaft^note South West African Colonial Society

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy

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• Artistic License – History: The flag of Südwestafrika is not the real German Colonial Flag, but instead the flag of the Deutscher Pfadfinderbund in Namibia, a scouting organization for German children in Namibia.
• Vestigial Empire: Following the collapse of Mittelafrika, Südwestafrika (Namibia) is one of the last places in Africa ruled by white Germans.

Heinrich Kirchheim

Role: Statthalter^note Country Leader

Party: Südwestafrikanische Kolonialgesellschaft^note South West African Colonial Society

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy

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• Emergency Authority: After the fall of Mittelafrika, Kirchheim was appointed Statthalter in a rush during the withdrawal of the German colonial administration to Südwestafrika. After Südwestafrika is stabilised and the native rebellions pacified, he can be kept in his role or replaced by Hans Hollander or Theodor von Hippel.

Southern Africa

South Africa

^{Flag of the South African People's Union}

Official Name: Union of South Africa, Republic of South Africa (Republic proclaimed), South African People's Union (Socialist)

Ruling Party: South African Party (Conservatives)

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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• Foreign Ruling Class: Racism and segregation are institutionalised and omnipresent in South Africa. The white settlers hold all political and economic power; under them are the Coloured (people of mixed heritage) and the Asians; and the native black Africans, despite making up the majority of the population, enjoy the least respect. The liberals can tone down the blatant white supremacy in favour of 'separate but equal' Apartheid, but only the native socialists can actually end it.
• Politically Incorrect Villain: The conservatives in the South African Party and the Boer nationalists of the National Party are white supremacists who believe that coloured people do not deserve to vote, as they can 'easily be bought by the highest bidder'.
• The Remnant: South Africa is the last holdout of British rule in Africa, after the United Kingdom lost the Weltkrieg and subsequently fell to the syndicalists.
• Spark of the Rebellion: If the South African government responds to Black Monday by repealing the Industrial Conciliation Act, the dissatisfied white workers in the Witwatersrand will start to strike. The strikes will quickly grow worse, and can cause the multiracial Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union to form an alliance with the strikers and a full-scale syndicalist revolution to break out if left unchecked.
• Timed Mission:
  • If resistance to the Nuweveld Project is too high, it will birth the Tswana Insurgency and a timed mission starts to control the insurgency, lest South African authority collapses and is replaced by a Mittelafrikan one.
  • If socialist South Africa is declared war on by Canada after its formation, they must hold for an entire year in order to obtain a white peace with their former overlords.
  • During the Third Boer War, the Republic of South Africa has 180 days to capitulate both Natal and Southern Rhodesia. If it fails the surviving states will break away from South Africa.
    • After a victory of the Republic over both, it must still hold on against Canada and the Entente for 180 more days to obtain a white peace.

Patrick Duncan

Role: Governor-General^note Country Leader (George Villiers resigns)

Ruling Party: South African Party (Conservatives)

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet

Role: Governor-General^note Country Leader (Patrick Duncan passes away)

Ruling Party: South African Party (Conservatives)

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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Ernest George Jansen

Role: Governor-General^note Country Leader (Patrick Duncan passes away)

Ruling Party: National Party (Moderates), National Party (Afrikaner Nationalists)

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy, Paternal Autocracy

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Daniël François Malan

Role: Prime Minister^note Second in Command (Elections), President^note Country Leader (Republic proclaimed)

Party: National Party (Afrikaner Nationalists), Purified National Party (Afrikaner Nationalists) (Fusion Government), Reunited National Party (Afrikaner Nationalists) (Volksparty-Purified election victory)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Civil War: When Malan wins the 1938 elections, he removes all mentions of the monarchy and proclaims the Republic of South Africa, which infuriates the Anglo-South African community, results in the secession of Southern Rhodesia and Natal with Canadian support, and kickstarts the Third Boer War.
• Renegade Splinter Faction: If J. B. M. Hertzog's clique in the National Party and the South African Party fuse into the United South African National Party, Malan will split off and create the Purified National Party.
• Uncertain Doom: If J.F. Van Rensburg overthrows Malan, Van Rensburg claims Malan and his entire cabinet disappeared the night before, leaving Malan's ultimate fate ambiguous.

Johannes Frederik Janse van Rensburg

Role: President^note Country Leader

Party: National Party (Extremists)

Ideology: National Populism

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• Blatant Lies: During his takeover, Van Rensburg claims that D.F. Malan and his entire cabinet have "inexplicably vanished" during the previous night, and that this is clearly the result of a native plot against white rule in South Africa.
• The Coup: If the 'Reorganise the National Party' focus is taken, causing the Extremist wing of the National Party to become dominant, Van Rensburg takes over South Africa, with the help of the Ossewabrandwag paramilitary group, allowing Van Rensburg to rule South Africa as a dictator. Furthermore, it is implied that he has had Malan and his cabinet eliminated.

William Henry Andrews

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Socialist Revolution)

Party: South African Trades and Labour Council

Ideology: Radical Socialism

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• Politically Incorrect Hero: Andrews genuinely wants to build a racially harmonious socialist South Africa, but believes doing so requires segregating whites and non-whites into two different, parallel unions.

David Ivon Jones

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Johannesburg Convention)

Party: International Socialist League

Ideology: Radical Socialism

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• Meet the New Boss: After the socialist takeover, the ISL can reject the ICU's multiracial power sharing arrangement, instead installing a white socialist regime and continuing the segregation under the old government because they consider it necessary that whites take the leading role in the revolution until the black majority is ready. This ultimately leads to the ICU overthrowing the ISL and installing an all-native government.

James Arnold La Guma

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Johannesburg Convention, Africanist coup)

Party: Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (Africanist)

Ideology: Totalism

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• The Coup: If the ISL leadership refuses to share power with the ICU, the ICU will get radicalised under La Guma's influence, and depose the ISL when they get strong enough.
• Occupiers Out of Our Country: La Guma deposes the provisional government after a racist faction of the South African left attempts to take control of the government and enforce segregation cloaked in socialist language to not lose their own privileges as white workers. With the help of black militias and whites opposed to the rogue faction, La Guma drives out the racists and proclaims a native republic where the black majority will rule exclusively. He argues that this is the only way for blacks to govern their own nation after centuries of white rule.

Third Boer War

Southern Rhodesia

Official Name: Southern Rhodesia, Zambesian Federation (Rhodesian expansion)

Party: Reform Party

Ideology: Social Liberalism

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• Foreign Ruling Class: Most of the Southern Rhodesian population are native black Africans, but a small demographic of English-speaking whites hold all political power and enforce a system of segregation.
• Let No Crisis Go to Waste: Should Mittelafrika collapse, Southern Rhodesia might be tempted into a military adventure to reunite with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Natal

Official Name: Natal, South African Federation (Third Boer War Natalian victory)

Ruling Party: Union Federal Party

Ideology: Market Liberalism

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• Anti-Mutiny: When D. F. Malan declares the Republic of South Africa and withdraws from the British Empire, Natal will secede, reaffirm their loyalty to the Crown, and seek to return South Africa to British rule.
• Emergency Authority: If Hofmeyr is elected, militias will storm the Parliament and the Governor-General may acceed to their demands of suspending democracy and assuming emergency powers with the support of the Dominion Party.
• The Federation: If Natal defeats the Republic of South Africa, it will reform the country into the South African Federation.
• Irony: The pro-imperial secession of Natal takes place in Pietermaritzburg, the same city where the Boer republic of Natalia was proclaimed in 1839.

Patrick Duncan

Role: Governor-General^note Country Leader

Party: Dominion Party (Emergency Powers)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy (Emergency Powers)

See his entry in the South Africa folder.

Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet

Role: Governor-General^note Country Leader (Patrick Duncan passes away)

Party: Dominion Party (Emergency Powers)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy (Emergency Powers)

See his entry in the South Africa folder.

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