Usheigep

Usheigep, officially the Republic of Usheigep, is a large island country located in the Miligbekojongu Archipelago, east of Tsanakarun and Guenung, and north of Ingupufun. With a population of 69 million and an area of 812,495km2, it is the largest state by area and population in the Miligbekojongu region. Its capital and largest city is Darrutrami, while other major cities include Balangyan, Karsana, and Pélissierville.

Usheigep is a developed country with an advanced high-income mixed economy due to its abundant natural resources and it being a major trade centre in Nesiondalsa. A unitary semi-presidential republic with a full democracy, Usheigep provides very high standards of living, safety and economic freedom. It also has a universal healthcare system. Usheigep is a member of the, , , Federation of Nesiondalsan States, and Group of 192.

Prehistory (-8 century CE)
Humans have lived in what is now Usheigep around 45,000 BCE, coming in from the north in Guenung. Usheigep was a part of the island Atyragyturidiha until around 12,000 BCE, when it seperated into different islands, one of the larger ones being Usheigep.

At around 1 AD, the Ma'anyan peoples, which were brought in by Javanese and Malay peoples, arrived in the Miligbekojongu Islands, forcing the native Hadrifusian peoples to move to the eastern mountains. Over time, small settlements began to be created as agricultural conditions were good and rice cultivation was realized. These settlements branched into villages, towns, and later small kingdoms by the second and third centuries CE.

Rise of kingdoms (8 century CE-1416)
One of the first major kingdoms located on Usheigep Island was the Valyopu Kingdom, centered on what is now Valyopu Province in northwestern Usheigep, close to the Gbenung Strait. The kingdom's success can be attributed to access to trade with the kingdoms of Guenung and Anchajayuja islands. In addition, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam arrived in Usheigep from Valyopu, which led to religious conflicts between kingdoms, including the War of the Warjecho River, a bloody conflict from 994-1003 between the Muslim Warjecho Emirate and the Buddhist Trego-Utruji Kingdom that led to 50,000 dead.

Usheigep Empire (1416-1881)
In 1416, the Usheigep Empire was established and for 144 years fought against the Sultanate of Gbenung for hegemony in Miligbekojongu in the War of the Gbenung Strait. The Usheigepese won in 1560 and successfully fought off European invasions, becoming the dominant power in Miligbekojongu and one of the three great empires of Nesiondalsa, alongside the Vizhutu Empire, and the Cahaya dynasty. At its maximum extent, the Usheigepese Empire included all of modern Usheigep, including Mbopaamba and Ekupanta islands, alongside modern Eruchimpep, Ingupufun, and the Dosicaro Islands. It is considered by many to be the "Golden Age" of Usheigepese history.

Colonial period (1881-1904)
However, corruption and bad governance caused parts of northern Usheigep to be ceded to the British in 1872, and in 1881 Usheigep was partitioned by the UK, France, and Spain. The British received northern Usheigep, the French received southern Usheigep (with the border cutting through the middle of Darrutrami), and the Spanish received some coastal cities and the outerlying islands of Mbopaamba, Ekupanta, and the Dosicaros. However, the British and the French both claimed the entire Usheigep mainland, which nearly spread clashes that were already prevalent in Isandarual, but the two decided to make Usheigep and Isandarual independent in February 1904 through the Treaty of Tuval.

Independence and early republican period (1904-1930)
On February 15, 1904, Usheigep was granted independence as a republic even though France and Britain refuse to do so. J. Asano Tavrasino was the first president, while L. Mahangjo Sira was the first prime minister.

It was originally envisioned that Usheigep would be a semi-presidential republic, with the president in a ceremonial position while the prime minister held de facto executive power. However, the early years of the new republic was marred with corruption and political rivalries. While Tavrasino kept things under control, when he suddenly died in 1909, no one could agree on who to replace him, creating a power vacuum known as the Struggle of 1909. Politicians and military generals aligned themselves into factions and began to assassinate each other in order to eliminate rivals and obtain power. The Struggle permanently changed Usheigep's political, cultural, and economic landscape.

In 1914, Pasunrik Lansaire consolidated power and eliminated possible rivals, ending the Struggle. Lansaire started to increase executive powers in the presidency, and started a system of stable liberal democracy known as Lansaire democracy. However, Lansaire democracy obtained a dark side as the system led to ineffective presidents and a corrupt bureaucracy.

By the 1920s, Usheigep had become one of the poorest nations of Miligbekojongu. In 1924, the British wanted to found a concession in Darrutrami, hoping to reassert some form of colonialism in Usheigep, and the weak Usheigepese government eagerly accepted the creation of the concession, known as the British concession of Darrutrami. The concession was leased to the British for 99 years, the same as what happened in Hong Kong. This caused a wave of fury and a rise in nationalism among the Usheigepese. Usheigepese saw the current government as "bowing down to the white man" and wanted Usheigep to become the great power it once was. Eventually, Darrutrami was returned to Usheigep in 1935.

Modernization and militarism (1930-1945)
In 1930, a Usheigepese Army general named Khosin Nasheri ran for election, hoping to change Usheigep into a modern country. By then, a nationalistic furor had swept all over the country, and Nasheri was elected president with 70% of the vote.

Influenced by Japanese militarism, Nasheri set out to transform Usheigep into a military state. Conscription was introduced in 1931, and a significant part of the Usheigepese budget went to the military. Exploitation of resources also occurred, and mass industrialization began. In Pélissierville, auto manufacturing plants popped up in a matter of months, and diamond and ore mines were created in Kanvairo province.

By World War II, the Usheigepese military was one of the most feared and strongest in Nesiondalsa. In 1942, Japan and its client state Cadasa invaded Nesiondalsa. The Usheigepese military easily defended the country from invasion, and Nasheri was celebrated as a hero.

Socialist period (1945-1968)
The end of WWII caused anti-colonialist uprisings and wars of independence in Nesiondalsa. These uprisings frequently involved socialism or communism. In 1950, Yasaqk Faxa Marzano of the Grand Socialist Party (GSP) was elected president. Marzano started to implement a mixed economy in Usheigep. In 1952, a universal healthcare system was introduced, and women gained the right to vote in 1954. Many industries were also nationalized, including the petro and air industry.

Marzano stepped down after two terms in 1958, but Marzano's policies lived on in future presidents, and the GSP would rule the nation for a half-century. In 1962, Philppe Masajouri was elected president. He started to created economic ties with the but never tried to move Usheigep towards communism. The People's Republic of Guenung, its neighbour, wanted to expand the "revolution" and assassinated the moderate Masajouri on November 7, 1965. Vice-President Dakéro Atapane stopped the Ugbenung forces and declared war on Guenung the next day. The war would be known as the Gbenung Strait Crisis, and due to the modernization of the Usheigepese forces in the 1930s and 1940s Usheigep advanced quickly and nearly took the Ugbenung capital. However, Guenung surrended on December 1, 1967, and the regions of Tsana and Karun would be ceded to Usheigep. However, the buffer state of Tsanakarun was created a day later, on December 2.

Conflicts with Mbopanta (1968-1990)
Main articles: Mbopanta conflicts and Fourth Republic of Usheigep In 1968, Atapane resigned from the presidency and vice-president Sanhieren Sipak became president. Sanhieren worked to return the outerlying islands of Mbopaamba and Ekupanta from Spain, as it was still under Spanish possession. However, by 1971 Walakarimasism was on the rise in Usheigep, and the Usheigep People's Democratic Army (UPDA) was waging guerilla wars with the Usheigepese and the Ingupufunese government-in-exile. On April 14, 1972, the UPDA and the aforementioned governments signed a ceasefire, resulting in the creation of the Walakarimasist state Mbopanta on the islands, with UPDA leader Endowombela Ujiluda being its ruler.

Usheigep continued to try and regain the islands of Mbopanta in a guerilla war. The conflict intensified after Kejaren Tuazon became president in 1978. Tuazon, although a member of the Grand Socialist Party, was against Walakarimasism, sending more Usheigepese forces to Mbopanta and discriminating against Ugbenung peoples. Hearing about Reaganomics and Thatcherism, neoliberal policies in the US and UK, Tuazon was inspired and worked to privatize some industries, notably Usheigep Petro and Air Usheigep. The economy of Usheigep grew at an average of 3.0% during his presidency (1978-1990).

In 1989, with the fall of socialist and communist ideologies across the world, Mbopanta was returned to Usheigep via a controversial invasion ordered by Tuazon.

Modern period (1990-)
In 1990, Tuazon decided not to run for a fourth term. Prime Minister Valentin J. Kaparo succeded him as president. Kaparo's policies mixed neoliberalism with Marzanoism, beginning the Fifth Republic.

In 2002, Gabriela Socie Saowadh, a member of the Usheigep First party, was elected president. Not only was Saowadh the first Usheigepese female president, she also ended the GSP’s 49 year long hold on power. She was also praised for her reaction to the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami, sending aid money to badly-affected countries in Miligbekongu, Nesionyta, and Ondalsa. Saowadh also spearheaded reforms in the Usheigepese political system, culminating in the 2007 constitutional referendum, which included instituting presidential term limits, decreasing presidential powers, and switching from an FPTP to a proportional representation electoral system from the 2010 election year onwards. The referendum passed with 52.02% voting yes.

Geography and climate
Usheigep consists of over 2000 islands located in southern Miligbekojongu, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. By far, the largest island by both area and population is Usheigep Island, followed by the outerlying islands of Ekupanta and Mbopaamba. The Dosicaro Islands are located south of the Usheigepese islands, found between Eruchimpep and Ingupufun.

Usheigep's lands are suitable for agriculture and farming, especially in the west. As a result, Usheigep's economy was reliant on agriculture until the 1930s. About 56% of the island are comprised of forests, which mainly grows in the east. The eastern part of the country is more rugged and mountainous, thus most of the population lives in the west.

Climate
Usheigep's climate is mainly temperate, but it varies between region.

Politics and government
The government of Usheigep follows the framework of a semi-presidential republic, in which there is a president, who is the head of state, and a prime minister, who is the head of government.

The current constitution of Usheigep divides the government into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The executive branch consists of the head of state (president) and the head of government (prime minister). The President, currently Khosin Akedere, is elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term, and can be re-elected once. The Prime Minister, currently Sano A. Yaperza, is the head of government, appointed by the President to lead the Government of Usheigep. Following the 2007 referendum, the Prime Minister can only be dismissed by the parliament. Previously, the President had the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister.

The legislative branch is known as the Taseyapal, the Usheigepese term for Parliament. The Taseyapal has 610 seats, and is elected via party-list PR, concurrently with the president in elections. The Taseyapal's responsibilities include determining outlines of state policy and discussing current and introducing new laws.

The law system in Usheigep has been influenced by French, English, and Vizhutuan law. A civil code was implemented in Usheigep in 1917.

Political parties
Since the struggle of 1909, there has always been two forces in Usheigepese politics: the left-wing and the right-wing. The left-wing is historically powerful in Usheigep, as seen in the Grand Socialist Party that ruled Usheigep from 1950 to 2002, while the right-wing enjoyed a brief surge in popularity in the 2010s.

However, due to reforms in the Usheigepese political system, it is nearly impossible for a single party to obtain a majority in government. As a result, since the 2010 election (the first to use proportional representation), coalitions and alliances have formed. The three largest include the left-wing Democratic Socialist Front (including the Grand Socialist Party, Party of Social Democrats and the Progressive Progress Party), the centrist Together for All (including the Victory Party, Liberal Democratic Party, and the ruling National Alliance), and the right-wing United Republic (including the Conservative Party and National Justice Party).

Adminstrative divisions
There are several levels of subdivisions in Usheigep. The first level are the provinces (pradesa), which each have an elected governor and a provincial legislature. There are 23 provinces in the country, including: Balangyan, Darrutrami, Dosicaro, Enjo, Ekupanta, Fotrabasra, Hadrifusa, Huvaapasra, Ikenja, Ipompirramfato, Kanvairo, Keronandi, Mbopaamba, Mfojirewo, Phreyogi'iji, Rajemzegarre, Salembandro'e, Sivonak, Tihurritak, Trego, Utruji, Valyopu, and Warjecho.

The provinces are further divided into divisions (panak) and cities (kotta), which are divided into the third-level divisions: rural cities (tehi kotta), districts (japiad) in the cities, and counties (kepachan) in the rural areas. The fourth level division are the towns, and the fifth and lowest division are the neigbourhoods and villages.

In addition, there are also seven regions of Usheigep: Dosicaro, Fotrahadri, Mbopanta, Parabasi, Sakenda, Tangara, and Temubasi, Although they have not been official administrative units since 1904, they are used for statistical and other purposes. They are widely used in maps, geography textbooks, and weather reports.

Economy
Usheigep has a mixed economy in which the government and private sectors both play important roles in the country's economy. With a nominal GDP of US$1.320 trillion, it has the largest economy in Miligbekojongu and is classifed as a newly industrialized country. The service sector accounts for 48.2% of the economy, followed by industry (38.5%) and agriculture (10.6%), with other sectors accounting for the rest (2.7%).

Demographics
There is a population of 69,283,912 in Usheigep as of the 2020 census. The country has a population growth rate of 1.14%. The vast majority of Usheigepese live on the main island of Usheigep and the surrounding islands. Over 7 million people live on the outlying islands of Ekupanta, Mbopaamba, and the Dosicaros. There is minimal population on the other islands of Usheigep. About 7 million Usheigepese live overseas.

The population is concentrated on the western regions of the country.

Ethnic groups
Usheigep is an ethnically diverse country. Around 62% of the population are declared to be Usheigepese. Due to contact with Guenung, Vagbenung and Vavamanesa peoples also constitute a sizable percentage of Usheigep, with a percentage of 13% and 4%, respectively. Multiracial Usheigepese also contribute to 7% of the population.

The Aslangala, the native peoples of the Ekupanta and Mbopaamba islands, number at about 4%, while the Hadrifusians, natives of the Usheigepese mainland, number at only 3%.

7% of Usheigep's population are of other backgrounds, most notably of Vizhutu, Anchajayujan, and Eruchimpep origin.