Equatoria
Republic of Equatoria | |
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Flag | |
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| Capital | Doowala |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognised national languages | English |
| Languages | Doowala Fang |
| Demonym | Equatorian |
| Establishment | 1890 |
• as British Equatorial Africa | 1958 |
• Independence | 1958 |
Equatoria is a country located in Central Africa, bordered by Mobile to the south, the Congo Federation to the east, Niger and Bornu to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It was formerly a British colony known as British Equatorial Africa before gaining independence in 1958 under the Paramaribo Accords. The capital city, Doowala, is situated on the coast at the estuary of the Woory River, which served as a major trade hub during the colonial era.
The nation is culturally and linguistically diverse, home to a wide array of ethnic groups including the Doowala, Mobile, Bacongo, and many others.
History
The region of modern-day Equatoria was home to various powerful kingdoms and groups. Among the most prominent were the Doowala, the Kingdom of Orongoo, and the Kingdom of Lwago, all of which controlled extensive trade networks along the coastal regions.
European Contact and Early Trade (16th–19th Century)
By the 17th century, European powers, including the Portuguese and the Dutch, began establishing trade relations with coastal kingdoms. The kingdoms acted as intermediaries in trade with the interior regions, facilitating the exchange of ivory, slaves, beeswax, copper, and other resources to European markets.
In the late 17th century, the Anglo-Dutch Union brought English traders to the region, where they competed for control over local resources. The Doowala traded with British merchants from the estuary of the Woory river, in what is now the capital of Equatoria. Meanwhile, in the central littoral area, the British had established a trading post on the island of Manjee to trade with the Kingdom of Orongoo.
The kingdoms eventually became dependent on the slave trade and on Britain. However, when Britain abolished slavery in 1834, the economic position of these kingdoms weakened, forcing them to shift to less profitable industries and engage in illicit trade. This led to a crackdown by the British, which harmed their relations with the kingdoms.
19th century
Anglo-Doowala Wars
In the late 19th century, as Communard France expanded its influence in Niger to the north, tensions escalated between the British and the Doowala. French traders offered lucrative deals to the Doowala kings, threatening Britain's near-monopoly on regional trade. Britain pressured the Doowala kings to cease trading with the French, but they refused. This led to the First Anglo-Doowala War in 1874, during which Britain, under the pretext of maintaining peace and preventing Communard France from expanding from Niger, defeated the Doowala. Following the victory, Britain established a permanent trading factory in Doowala, then the largest settlement in coastal Equatoria, and stationed a small military force.
Following the war, British influence in the region only grew. In 1880, the Second Anglo-Doowala War erupted as several Doowala kings united in an effort to expel British forces. Despite their efforts, the coalition of Doowala kings was ultimately defeated. After the war, Britain solidified its control over the region by formally establishing the Doowala protectorate. This move further integrated Doowala into the British colonial framework, significantly diminishing the power of local rulers in 1890.
Creation of local protectorates
The Kingdom of Orongoo fell under British control following the Anglo-Orongoo War in 1854, which resulted from Britain's ultimatum demanding an end to the slave trade in the region. The kingdom's increasing dependence on the slave trade weakened its power, enabling the British to assert control and expand their colonial presence. Similarly, the Kingdom of Ngoyo in the south experienced a comparable fate. Recognizing the overwhelming influence of the British, the Kingdom of Loango sought protection and requested to become a protectorate in 1890, leading to the establishment of the Loango Protectorate. British exploration into the interior subsequently brought contact with the Teke people, whose chiefs signed a treaty of protectorate status in 1892-1893, likely under duress.
Establishment of British Equatorial Africa
In 1895, British Equatorial Africa was established, with Doowala as its capital. Following its formation, Britain expanded its influence into the interior, charting the upstream regions of the Congo River and the Ubangi River, which it designated as the boundary between British Equatorial Africa and British Congo. Despite having mapped only the riverbanks, the British claimed vast areas of the interior, which remained largely unexplored by the turn of the 20th century.
20th century
In the 20th century, colonial authorities exploited the land and its resources, encouraging migration from the interior to the coastal areas, which led to a more cosmopolitan population in cities like Doowala. To prevent the Doowala from becoming overshadowed, the British administration also made efforts to maintain relationships with local leaders. British companies established extensive plantations for bananas, rubber, palm oil, and cocoa, which further integrated the local economy into the British market. Significant improvements were made to infrastructure in both northern and southern Equatoria, making the colony one of Britain's most important holdings in Central Africa.
Independence
Following the Great War (1935-1939), calls for independence intensified, eventually culminating in the signing of the Paramaribo Accords of 1958, which granted Equatoria its independence as a sovereign nation with majority rule.
Post-independence (1958-present)
Not long after independence, Equatoria was grappling with mounting dissatisfaction over the exploitation of its natural resources, particularly forestry and oil, by British and other foreign interests. As environmental degradation worsened, especially the large-scale deforestation of the Mayombe Forest, Equatorian environmentalist groups began to protest, spurred by a broader Green Nationalism movement that had taken root. The movement called for nationalizing resources and halting the environmental destruction caused by foreign corporations. With growing public support, the movement threatened to push Equatoria toward oil nationalization, alarming the Organization of Democratic Nations (ODN).
Secession of Mobile (1975)
Fearing a loss of control over Mobile’s vast oil reserves, the ODN began covertly supporting a secessionist movement in Mobile, hoping to create a client state that could preserve their access to oil wealth amidst the 1970s global oil crisis. Backed by foreign military and financial aid, Mobile declared independence from Equatoria in 1975, creating the Republic of Mobile. The new state received strong support from Angola, which was keen to expand its influence after its own independence, and the ODN, which provided logistical and diplomatic backing.
