Got the basic timeline of this alt-history nation of Sagallo, based on the failed Russian colony in Djibouti. Just a little “what if” scenario done primarily for fun.
1889 - 1918: Colonial era. The Colony of Sagallo is established, the Franco-Sagalloan War is fought in 1890 to Sagallo’s victory. Historically, this is where the real Sagallo was destroyed. The First Sagalloan-Italian War is fought in 1895 also to Sagallo’s victory, laying claim to a sizable portion of Eritrea in the process. With the defeat of two major European powers, the Russian Empire establishes itself as a colonial power.
1918 - 1950: “Free State” era. With the onset of the Russian Civil War, political turbulence erupts in Sagallo as to how the colony ought to respond. The Military Security Council steps in and declares martial law, under the leadership of Gen. Stepa Barinyakov. Barinyakov’s leadership during this time holds a divisive place in Sagalloan history. Some see him as a ruthless authoritarian, who owned the press and banned opposing political parties. Others see him as the founder of modern Sagallo, since his policies promoted literacy, desegregation, economic revitalization and trade. During the Free State era, Sagallo became a powerful player in East Africa. The country’s role in the defeat of Italian and German forces during WWII meant that Ethiopia was effectively gifted to Barinyakov’s government in the post-war partitioning. Sagallo also seized the rest of Eritrea during the campaigns. The Ethiopian Acquisition meant that Sagallo was then among the largest countries in Africa.
1950 - 1955: First Civil War. The Second World War put a lot of strain on the people of Sagallo, and Barinyakov’s stranglehold on the political landscape was beginning to slip. The people wanted change, and the USSR discretely begun to sponsor pro-communist and pro-reunification movements within Sagallo. Stepa Barinyakov died in early 1950, passing of natural causes in his sleep, and setting off a chain of events that would lead to a civil war within the country. Barinyakov had carefully consolidated power to the Military Security Council, more specifically its chairman. When he died, disagreement over the succession of power caused the Security Council to divide. Communist rebels sided with the winning faction, reorganizing the country into the Soviet Republic of Sagallo.
1955 - 1971: Communist era. With the new USSR-backed communists in power, things rapidly changed. Food production was reorganized for export, sent back to Russia to supply factory workers. This left little for rural communities to survive on, meaning food shortages were common. In addition to the new farming policies, espionage groups set up many outposts in Sagallo to launch cross-border operations into central Africa. Hoping to secure raw materials, especially those useful for nuclear weapon manufacturing. In response, the CIA begun a counter-intelligence operation to fund anti-communist militias in the CAR and Congo. The USSR’s institutional atheism also begun creating tension with the country’s Christian and Muslim population. 1965, the Holy Defense League (or HDL) and the Islamic Resistance Front (or IRF) were established.
1971 - 1977: Second civil war/republican era. Leadership of both HDL and IRF decided more could be done together than by infighting. The Second Sagalloan Civil War begun in when both sides signed a treaty to become the United Defense Front, or UDF. The rebels begun a guerrilla war against the Red Army, gaining traction and international support as their operations expanded. The civil war created a sense of national and religious unity in Sagallo, as all had suffered under the USSR. The Red Army officially surrendered in 1977, ending the war and once again reorganizing the country into the Republic of Sagallo
1977 - Today: Modern Sagallo. Joining the United Nations in 1980 and the African Union in 2005, Sagallo today stands as a trading power, taking advantage of the trade route through the Suez Canal. Sagalloan troops have an armed presence in many countries, either through UN deployments or independent agreements with other nations. An enforced border with Somalia and recently South Sudan, along with direct deployments in Nigeria to assist the NAF in suppressing Boko Haram foot-soldiers. Sagallo also sees a presence in Syria, looking to stem possible cross-border activities from IS-aligned militants before it becomes an issue. Despite its high military presence, Sagallo sees a large influx of foreign tourists and immigrants every year. A vibrant mix of Russians, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Somalians, Kenyans, Sudanese, Egyptians, Arabians and Yemeni refugees, a smattering of Europeans and an increasing number of tech sphere workers from India as of the early 2000′s.