Appendix 2

Njedi

When the British ran the former German North-East Africa from 1920 to 1956, Tungaru and Njedi were known as the Federation of Tungaru and Njedeland. The two territories became independent as separate countries, and it was frequently claimed (though the British denied it) that this was done to create an artificial Christian majority in Tungaru: 85% of Njedi’s population is Muslim. In practice, there are very close linguistic, cultural and religious links between Tungaru and its neighbour to the north-east.

The population of Njedi is some eight million people, and the main occupation is still agriculture. The territory had been self-sufficient in food, and exported some cereal products, but the World Bank persuaded the government, soon after independence in 1961, to move to a policy of cultivating cash crops for export. In the mid-1970s, world prices of these crops plummeted, and the country effectively became bankrupt. After several years of turbulence and increasing poverty, culminating in a widespread famine in 1978, a shadowy group of officers known as the Council of Ten seized power. They instituted a siege economy, and cut off most contact with the outside world. Their ideology was a curious mix of nationalism, anti-colonialism and traditionalism, expressed in a Marxist-influenced vocabulary. Their main platform, apart from economic self-sufficiency, was a union with Tungaru under Njedan leadership. They claimed (with some truth) that the Njedan capital of Tomu had been the heart of the old Kingdom of Tungaru in the 18th century. They also claimed that what they called the ‘International Zionist Conspiracy’, centred on the City of London, had conspired to dismember the country since that time.

The Popular Fighting Forces of Njedi (PFFN) were rapidly increased in size, and benefited from the delivery of much weaponry (mainly Soviet). The sources of these arms are still unclear, but probably include Libya. East German instructors are believed to have been active in the country, and some modernisation of the equipment may have been carried out by South African companies in the mid-1980s. The task of the PFFN was given as the "liberation of the province of Tungaru from the Zionist yoke of the City of London." In spite of much rhetoric, there was no full-scale fighting between the two countries, although there were serious clashes on the border in 1984 and 1986. The PFFN forces showed considerable bravery, but were technically no match for the Tungarans. According to prisoners, they had been told to expect to find British, American and Israeli troops fighting on the Tungaran side.

Eventually, international isolation and the bizarre behaviour of the regime took their toll. In 1989, a group of moderate officers seized power, and the Council of Ten and many of their supporters were summarily executed. In return for international loans, the new government introduced what it described as ‘realistic’ economic policies, including the opening of the economy to cheap foreign food imports and massive cuts in welfare and education. Islamic fundamentalism had never been a problem in the past, but, under the stimulus of increasing poverty and desperation, the previously obscure Islamic Welfare Movement (IWM) began to gain significant support. The government reacted by banning the IWM, and imprisoning those who supported its policies. Many army units defected to the IWM, and its forces eventually occupied Tomu in May 1996. The new Islamic Republic of Njedi stated that it desired only good relations with its neighbours, and it repudiated the previous government’s claims to Tungaran territory. Accusations that it was covertly supporting Islamic fundamentalists inside Tungaru were indignantly denied.

In June 1977, the Njedan armed forces consisted of:

Army 170 000 (350 000 reserves)

6 armoured divisions (2 armoured, 1 mechanised brigades)

2 mechanised divisions (2 mechanised, 1 infantry brigades)

4 artillery divisions

2 special forces brigades

12 infantry divisions (mobilisation only)

some 300 M-48, T-54/55 tanks

some 400 BTR/BMP M-113 infantry vehicles

some 200 artillery pieces

some TOW, AT-3, RPG-7 missiles

Air force 35 000 (including 12 000 air defence command)

6 fighter squadrons with MiG 15/17

2 fighter/ground attack squadrons with Mirage F-1

2 transport squadrons with C-130, An-12

2 helicopter transport squadrons (various types)

3 air defence brigades with various guns, SA-6 and SA-8 missiles (all static).

 Note: At least some of the equipment listed above is believed to be non-operational for lack of spares and qualified personnel. The standard of training, especially in the army, is extremely variable.