Kunjut Crisis

Kunjut Crisis
Part of the Dissolution of the Balak Empire
Location Kunjut Result Imperial defeat Independent Kunjut established Union of Shomosvan officially recognised by Imperial leadership Balak Empire officially dissolved Abdication of Emperor Jimâşim II
Belligerents
Balak Empire	Shomosvan	Kunjut

The Kunjut Crisis was a series of events spanning from [TBD] until [month] 1963, constituting part of the conflict between the government in exile of the Balak Empire and the emergent Kuulist Union of Shomosvan, and later involving pro-independence militias. The conflict can broadly be seen as comprising two phases, with the first phase seeing a more limited conflict between Imperial forces and Shomosvan-funded Kuulist insurgents, and the second phase introducing pro-independence combatants. The second phase of the crisis in particular would become highly infamous for the conditions endured by the people of Kunjut, and for the war crimes committed by and against the varied factions.

Background

Establishment of the Union of Shomosvan

In 1952 the Kuulist Union of Shomosvan was established in the midst of the Vaniuan Golden Wave, controlling mainland Balakia and Gushlia. This event prompted the relocation of the Imperial Government to Sonka, from which it maintained control over the Empire's colonial possessions, with the hope of eventually retaking the mainland as had been done during the Balak Civil War. At this early stage, Imperial Kunjut remained firmly under the control of the government-in-exile, and various plans were drawn up to attempt to retake the Balak heartland using Kunjut as a launchpad.

First phase

The first phase of the crisis primarily concerned pro-Imperial and pro-Kuulist forces struggling for control. The Imperial faction's fighting forces consisted primarily of the existing colonial militia stationed in the colony, whereas the bulk of pro-Kuulist forces were guerilla organisations supported financially by the new Shomosvani government.

On [year], the Imperial government signed a treaty with Jeehoop, ceding a number of border territories to Jeehoop which were primarily inhabited by ethnic groups who were neither Balak nor Amaian, in return for a cooperation against the Kuulist forces. This deal established the modern Jeehoop-Kunjut border, although Jeehoop initially struggled to assert its authority over its newly-acquired holdings.

Gulf blockades

On [date], the Imperial government and Jeehoop implemented a joint blockade of the opening to the Parshita Sea, intended to starve the Balak heartland into submission and thereby weaken the Shomosvani regime, in addition to limiting the supply of goods to Kuulist militias in Kunjut. In response, Shomosvani naval forces blockaded important ports in the Zwazwan Gulf. The two conflicting blockades resulted in a situation where Kunjut could not reliably import goods such as food or medical supplies, except through its still-unstable land border with Jeehoop.

Second phase

Decolonisation pressure

With the Balak heartland having been in Kuulist hands for years, Imperial control over the colonies had begun to wane, resulting in the gradual independence of Balak colonial possessions, with Numudu being the first territory to be relinquished in 1955. At the same time as the Kunjut Crisis, the Utogo Crisis in Lahan saw anti-colonial independence rebels attempt to seize control over the Empire's remaining territories in Lahan. Despite these issues, the Imperial government opted to more heavily prioritise the Kunjut Crisis in 1958, diverting resources from other combat zones to secure their holdings in the Zwazwan Gulf.

International involvement

Baghazan

Baghazan made significant material contributions to various factions in the crisis, providing both weapons and medical supplies to Imperial and independence factions alike. Such profiteering helped to bolster the Baghazani economy, while the country's implicitly anti-Kuulist position helped it to improve relations with the fledgeling Jeehoop in spite of relatively recent conflict with the previous Cathan regime, reducing the latter's diplomatic isolation and contributing to detente between the two countries.