Gbenung Strait Crisis

The Gbenung Strait Crisis, also known as the Guenung Strait Crisis or the Ugbenung-Usheigepese War was a conflict between the People's Republic of Guenung and the Republic of Usheigep that lasted from November 8, 1965 to December 1, 1967. The war was fueled by Ugbenung leader Hotep Gezarin's (whom allied Guenung with ) attempt to remove Usheigepese President Philippe Nkinjire Masajouri from power because he was accused of creating economic ties with the Soviet Union. The cause was also an expansionist one, as Hotep wanted Usheigep, then a socialist-leaning capitalist country, be completely under communist and Maoist control.

Background
Although Guenung had been leaning towards the PRC since 's denunciation of Stalin in 1956, it wasn't until April 1965, when Hotep Gezarin, General Secretary of the Ugbenung Communist Party, publicly declared his support for the in the.

In Usheigep, socialism was prevalent. In 1950, Yasanka Faxa Marakeno of the United Socialist Party was elected. He increased state intervention and created a majority-planned mixed economy. He also introduced universal healthcare and women’s suffrage to Usheigep. Although Marakeno retired in 1958, he was still popular and many Usheigepese supported socialism. In 1962, moderate Philippe Masajouri was elected as president. He continued Marakeno’s policies but took a stand against Maoism and Stalinism, also increasing ties with the.

On November 4, 1965, Ugbenung Armed Forces personnel sailed from the port city of Karidapesano, Karun Region, towards Usheigep. By November 7, they had reached the capital Darrutrami and removed Masajouri from power. Before they could install a leader in power, however, Usheigepese Vice-President and army general Dakéro Atapane stopped them and declared war on Guenung on November 8.

War
The first bombings on Guenung started on November 14, all hitting cities in the Tsana and Karun regions, plus eastern Vamanesa Region. These included Karidapesano, Ngoyotrngukwikeguluyambimitnchanjo, Sakahiniretamvire, and Mvǔɣiʒǐphǐaxa, the then-capital of Guenung, which caused high civilian deaths.