View source for Argana (Western Sahara)

{{Disambig1|the [[Western Sahara|Western Sahara Creator DLC's]] depiction/interpretation of the nation of Argana|its canonical Armaverse counterpart in [[ArmA 3]] itself|Argana}}
{{Spinoff}}
{{Infobox/Country
|title1 = Argana
|image1 = [[File:Flag_Argana_CO.png|thumb|center]]
|capital = ''Unknown''
|languages = Arabic<br />French
|demonym = Arganan
|population = ''Unknown''
|currency = ''Unknown''
|tld = ''Unknown''
}}
'''Argana''' is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa.<ref name="WSExtractionArganaBackground1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Argana is a nation located in North Africa. Demographically, it is dominated by the indigenous Amatu and Laba people, but it is also home to a culturally diverse mix of other ethnic groups. Following independence, Argana has suffered years of internal strife, as well as conflicts with neighboring states. Consequently, its wealth and infrastructure have experienced regular destructive cycles marred by collapse and costly reinvestment.''"</ref>

== History ==
=== '''Origins''' ===
According to ancient Sefrawi legend, an ancient Berber (Imazighen) tribe known as the Scylii declared war on the desert winds, disappearing without a trace during the 5th century BCE.<ref name="WSSefrouRamalLoadingScreenText1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Sefrou-Ramal]]'', "''According to legend, an ancient Imazighen tribe, known as the Scylii, once declared war on the desert winds. They disappeared without a trace in the 5th Century BC.''"</ref>

=== '''French colony''' ===
During the Scramble for Africa, Argana came under the control of the rapidly expanding French colonial empire. After decades of colonial rule, the French language became widely spoken by urban communities. In the coming decades, tribes such as the [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura]] were also forced to modernise and adopt modern lifestyles due to various external factors such as climate change and water shortages.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationSefrouRamalBackground1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''[[Sefrou-Ramal]] is the north-easternmost province of Argana, encompassing the main inhabited areas of the Sefrawi Desert. Although supported by a modest tourist trade, it escaped international attention until the effects of the climate crisis in the late 2020s. A hotbed of civil unrest and factitious tribal violence, the Sefrawi Desert covers a tract of inhospitable dune fields and remote oases, reaching deep into Algeria to the east and meeting with Morocco to the north.''"</ref><ref name="WSExtractionTuraBackground1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''One of the peoples of Argana. Historically, the [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura]] were nomad denizens and caravan raiders of the Sefrawi desert, but due to climate change, water shortages, and added pressure from a continuously declining economy, many have adopted modern urban lifestyles, assimilating with Argana's sprawling population centers. The causes of recent upheaval within the Tura community are complex, but most attribute the recent spate of violence to intergenerational tribal feuds, ethnic politics, and state-sponsored discrimination.''"</ref>

=== '''Independence''' ===
With a wave of anti-colonialism and collapse sweeping the European colonial empires following the Second World War, Argana gained its independence during the latter half of the 20th century. As a promising and resource rich independent state, the country received heavy investment from foreign companies. However, by the end of the Cold War the country had fallen victim to a series of military coups, border conflicts with neighboring states, gross economic mismanagement and tribal warfare, leaving it unstable and in the decline.<ref name="WSExtractionArganaBackground1"/><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationRecentHistory1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Recent history: Once a flourishing French colony and promising independent state, Sefrou-Ramal has since grown increasingly unstable following a succession of military coups and economic mismanagement.''"</ref>

=== '''Red Tiger Coup''' ===
[[File:Arma3-character-santiago-00.png|thumb|right|A [[Santiago|FFL soldier]] poses for a photo whilst distributing aid to Arganan refugees (''2000'')]]
Exploiting a country in decline, [[Solomon Maru]] and his paramilitary forces, backed by the [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura]] launched a violent takeover of the country in the early 2000s, ultimately failing to seize power and sparking a bloody civil war instead.<ref name="WSExtractionTuraBackground2">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Name: Arib Said Age: ? Gender: Male Nationality: Sefrawi Occupation: Leader of the [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura tribe]] Notes: The chief of the Tura tribe. Not much is known about his past, but it is rumored he may have been involved in the so-called Red Tiger coup several years ago. Said is suspected of having worked as a mercenary under the now deceased warlord, [[Solomon Maru]]. He went off the grid in [[End Game (Apex Protocol)|late 2035]]. Under Said's leadership, the Tura tribe has been gaining influence, becoming a major player in the [[Sefrou-Ramal|region]].''"</ref> In response to the humanitarian crisis, a contingent of French Foreign Legionnaires were deployed to distribute aid to over 11,000 refugees.<ref name="OfficialHistoryFFLDeployment1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Apex DLC|Apex]] 2016 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., ''[[Old Man (campaign)|Old Man]]'', ''\a3\missions_f_oldman\data\img\intro\legio\om_intro05_newspaper_clean_ca.paa'', "''French Foreign Legion delivers aid to Argana''", ''[[News Today]]''</ref>

Ultimately, the crisis came to an end after [[Solomon Maru]] fled from the country and went into hiding. He evaded capture for almost three decades before he was finally assassinated in August 2035, thirty-five years after the failed coup.<ref name="WSExtractionTuraBackground2"/> The crisis would ultimately send Argana spiralling out of the Western sphere of influence and into the orbit of China and Iran.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationMilitary1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Military: In 2032, [[CSAT]] member states and the Arganan government established a military airfield, allowing precision drone strikes and extending surveillance coverage across the whole of Western Sahara. The site was briefly occupied by [[NATO (Western Sahara)|NATO]] forces in June 2035 but was returned to the jurisdiction of the Arganan Air Force in January 2036.''"</ref>
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=== '''Arganan Crisis''' ===
With climate change in full effect, by the late 2020s Argana experienced the worst heatwave in the country's history with temperatures reaching record highs, resulting in widespread civil unrest and tribal warfare. The Tura, hit hardest by the ensuing crisis, launched an uprising in the northwest of the region, seizing control of large swathes of the [[Sefrou-Ramal]] province.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationSefrouRamalBackground1"/><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationRecentHistory1"/><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingSituation1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Michael Sully, a foreign correspondent for [[AAN News]], has been missing for nearly two months. Last week, HUMINT confirmed our fears: He is in the hands of insurgents. [[ION Services (Western Sahara)|ION Services Inc.]] has been contracted by an anonymous client to find him and bring him home. The Arganan government, however, has lost control of [[Sefrou-Ramal]]. Non-state actors and [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura tribesmen]] are strengthening their grip on the territory by the hour. Now, the civilian presence in the AO is low — most of the locals fled to refugee camps across the border when the fighting started — but a small contingent of [[UNA (Western Sahara)|UNA peacekeepers]] are still in situ, providing safe passage for non-combatants. Regarding our desert terrain, it's exactly that. Hot as hell and full of sand. The dunes are the only salient features in terms of topography, and the climate is extremely arid, with humidity at an all-time low.''"</ref><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingMichaelSullyBiography1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Name: Michael Sully Age: 42 Gender: Male Nationality: [[United States of America (country)|American]] Occupation: Journalist ([[AAN News]]) Notes: An experienced foreign correspondent and former soldier. Mr. Sully served with the [[United States Army|U.S. Army Reserve]] (USAR) in [[Takistan]] through 2012 before chasing a career in combat journalism. In 2027, he joined AAN News and covered several international conflicts, reporting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, [[Ardistan]], and the [[Republic of Altis and Stratis]]. After a nine-month sabbatical in 2030, he traveled to Argana to report on the civil war, receiving international acclaim for providing evidence of genocide to the ICC. He regularly wrote and published articles for AAN News and [[News Today]], up until April 3rd, 2036, when he disappeared without a trace.''"</ref><ref name="WSExtractionIntroCutscene1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', ''\lxws\missions_f_lxws\video\ext_aan_intro.ogv'', ''00:01'', "''Internecine violence continues across Saharan states this week, following last month's popular uprising by [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura insurgents]]. [[Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (Western Sahara)|Government forces]] in Argana's [[Sefrou-Ramal]] province have been unable to maintain order but deny losing key districts to the rebels... The impact of the conflict has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the region's history. Peter Rouffaer, President of the [[IDAP|International Development and Aid Project]], referred to the ongoing situation as 'deeply concerning' and called for 'a united and compassionate response' from the international community. Arganan officials however, have been accused of escalating tensions by providing subsidiaries to the Shenzhen Industry Group for private military contractors. A spokesman for the company confirmed today that although security providers have been hired and are active in the region, their remit is limited to safeguarding civilian lives and protecting vital economic interests'.''", ''[[AAN News]]''</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Western sahara.png|thumb|right]]
Located in the Maghreb region of North Africa, Argana is situated within the northern half of the Western Sahara. It neighbors Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the south of Western Sahara, status unknown.<ref name="WSExtractionArganaMapSnippet1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', ''\lxws\missions_f_lxws\data\journal\journal_argana_co.paa''</ref>

Argana is sparsely populated and largely inhospitable, being one of the hottest places on the planet with little to no plant life to speak of. With climate change in full effect, the sand dunes of Argana were hit the hardest with the country experiencing the worst heatwaves in its history.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingSituation1"/>
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== Politics ==
Once a flourishing French colony, Argana has been plagued by a series of military coups, border conflicts with its neighbors and gross economic mismanagement.<ref name="WSExtractionArganaBackground1" /><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationRecentHistory1"/> With the Red Tiger Coup of the early 2000s, the country was sent spiraling out of the Western sphere of influence, ultimately becoming a partner and member of [[CSAT]] and firmly aligning itself with the East.<ref name="WSExtractionTuraBackground2"/><ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationMilitary1"/>

{{UnclearSpeculation}}
Argana is ''possibly'' governed under a monarchy.<ref name="PossibleMonarchy" group="note">''An alternate texture for the Pickup vehicle featured in the [[Reaction Forces]] Creator DLC (also developed by Rotators Collective), is specifically named as "Argana (Royal)" and is meant for the country's police force, the Sûreté nationale.''</ref>

=== '''Armed forces and law enforcement''' ===
{{Main|Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (Western Sahara)}}
The Arganan military maintains both a land and air force.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationMilitary1"/> The national police force is the ''Sûreté Nationale.''

A state-sanctioned paramilitary force, the '''[[Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (Western Sahara)|Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army]]''', also serves in an official capacity under the direct control of the Arganan government.<ref name="WSSFIABackground1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, "''The [[Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (Western Sahara)|Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (SFIA)]] is a well-organized paramilitary group, reporting directly to the Arganan government.''"</ref>

== Economy ==
With little other resources at its disposal, Argana is heavily reliant on the rich iron ore deposits within the country. A surface mine, recently acquired by [[Daltgreen]], an Australian subsidiary of the Shenzhen Industry Group, employs many of the region's locals. However, escalating tensions in recent times have forced the mine to shut down.<ref name="WSExtractionBriefingInformationEconomy1">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Extraction (Western Sahara)|Extraction]]'', "''Economy: Principally, iron ore deposits. A surface mine, recently acquired by [[Daltgreen]], an Australian-based subsidiary of the Shenzhen Industry Group is the region's key employer. The mine is temporarily closed due to the escalating tensions.''"</ref>

Before the outbreak of civil war, tourism companies offered camel rides into the Sefrawi Desert that took tourists on overnight expeditions.<ref name="WSSefrouRamalLoadingScreenText2">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Sefrou-Ramal]]'', "''Before the war, many companies offered camel trips into the Sefrawi Desert, taking tourists on overnight expeditions, far from civilization.''"</ref> Likewise, racing enthusiasts from across the globe descended upon Sefrou-Ramal for the annual "''Dune Rally''", jointly sponsored by [[Redstone]] and the [[Vrana Corporation]].<ref name="WSSefrouRamalLoadingScreenText3">[[ArmA 3|ARMA 3:]] [[Western Sahara]] 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, ''[[Sefrou-Ramal]]'', "''Every year, racing enthusiasts descend on [[Sefrou-Ramal]] for the celebrated [[Vrana Corporation|Vrana]]-[[Redstone]] Dune Rally.''"</ref>

== Society ==
=== '''Demographics''' ===
Argana is dominated by the indigenous Amatu and Labu groups, with a number of minorities such as the [[Sefrawi Freedom and Independence Army (Western Sahara)|Sefrawi]] and [[Tura (Western Sahara)|Tura]], who inhabit the province of [[Sefrou-Ramal|Sefrou Ramal]].<ref name="WSExtractionArganaBackground1"/><ref name="WSExtractionTuraBackground1"/>

=== '''Religion''' ===
Islam appears to be the only known religion practiced in the country.<ref name="PossibleReligion" group="note">''Mosques are present across the province of Sefrou-Ramal and are labelled as such in the [[Eden editor|editor]].''</ref>

=== '''Languages''' ===
The traditional language of Argana is Arabic, but most Arganans use French in conversation. 

Due to the continued presence of foreign nationals on Arganan soil, various languages<ref name="SignLanguages" group="note">''English, Spanish, German and French.''</ref> are also used on signs and structures.

== Notes ==
<references group="note" />
== References ==
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== See also ==
* [[Argana]] ''(Canonical counterpart)''
{{Countries}}
[[Category:Countries]]
[[Category:Western Sahara (Creator DLC)]]