A Future History timeline by Pkmatrix created as a spin off from his larger timeline, A Revised History of the Future Set during the years 2085 and 2086 of A Revised History of the Future, it details the first year-and-a-half of the 21st Century's largest conflict, a war between the Congolese-led Alliance for Continental Freedom on one side against the India-led Indian Ocean Security Treaty Organization, a Pan-American coalition, the European Union, and the Nigera-led Economic Community of West African States.
For more information on the events leading up to this timeline and the events that follow, please see A Revised History of the Future.
1 January - 13 February 2085
Issac Nsungu took office for a fifth consecutive term following an election denounced by international monitors as fraudulent. Tensions rose between the Alliance for Continental Freedom and the Central African Republic throughout January and early February, thanks to fiery and aggressive rhetoric by the Congolese government. During this period, United Congo and South Sudan moved significant military assets to their borders.
14 February
The Alliance for Continental Freedom (ACF) issued a statement accusing the Central African military of violating South Sudan's territorial border. Within six hours, armed from United Congo and South Sudan crossed the border and ACF UCAVs conducted airstrikes throughout the country. Despite being at high alert, Central African forces had trouble resisting the ACF’s superior military and weapons. Bangui, the capital, fell within the first few hours and the government was forced to flee to Bocaranga. The attack sparked international outrage and immediate condemnation from the Americas, Europe, and Indian Ocean Security Treaty Organization (ISTO).
16 February
The African Union issued a statement calling for a ceasefire and for both sides to negotiate. This followed heated discussions during the AU’s emergency meeting between ACF and ISTO representatives, after which the ISTO representatives walked out.
19 February
Unable to resist and with ACF ground forces closing in on Bocaranga, the Central African government evacuated to Cameroon. Organized resistance to the invasion collapsed over the next several days.
28 February
The Alliance for Continental Freedom declared victory over the Central African Republic, and its borders with United Congo and South Sudan were dissolved. The territory was divided between United Congo and South Sudan, splitting Central Africa east-west along the Bamingui and Ouaka rivers. Foreign journalists were evicted, and the Internet flooded with reports of widespread human rights violations. The United States, Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and India issued statements calling for UN sanctions, which was echoed by opposition leaders in Europe and China. Russian and Chinese leaders had yet to address the conflict.
2 March
Ora Frederick, president of the European Commission, and Wilbert Vlach, Europe’s Foreign Minister, joined calls for UN sanctions. However, they also announced that the European Union was dedicated to seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis and would oppose any resolution calling for military action against the Alliance for Continental Freedom. This position would be harshly criticized by the British, French, and Turkish governments.
5 March
Russia joined the calls for UN sanctions against the ACF, but also echoed the European Union’s opposition to military action. The Chinese government, while publicly still silent, had privately indicated to India, Russia, and the United States it would vote in favor of UN sanctions, with conditions.
14 March
The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning the ACF’s invasion of the Central African Republic and demanding that their forces withdraw within 60 days. The resolution was panned by critics as being too weak, however a more harshly worded resolution was tossed out when the Chinese government threatened a veto. Xu Yeung, chairman of the Democratic Party of China, condemned the decision by the Communist government as “wholly irresponsible” and “protecting a vicious dictator and his cronies from international justice”.
15 March
Issac Nsungu, in a webcasted address to the Congolese National Assembly, defiantly rejected the UN Security Council’s demands and called upon the African Union to support the ACF against “the foreign imperialists seeking to recolonize our continent”.
19 March
After repeated attempts to issue a resolution supporting the Alliance failed to pass, the representatives from the ACF and their supporters walked out of the African Union General Assembly. The remaining members, now dominated by ISTO and European-leaning states, passed a resolution condemning the ACF occupation of Central Africa and calling for immediate withdrawal.
21 March
United Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Eritrea, Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Zambia, and Malawi withdrew from the African Union. A general military buildup began as the Alliance for Continental Freedom prepared itself for a possible international armed intervention.
29 March
The East African Federation placed its military on high alert. Indian Prime Minister Rahul Chowdhury informed the Lok Sabha of plans to move additional military assets to the Arabian Sea to bolster ISTO patrols.
3 April
The UN Security Council passed a second, also watered-down, resolution calling for economic sanctions against the ACF. A stronger resolution, sponsored by the United States and UNASUR, was rejected thanks to veto threats by Beijing and Moscow. Jiang Zheng, the Chinese Premier, once again came under fire at home by opposition leaders for not backing the hardline resolution.
8 April
After a telephone conversation with President Frederick fails to convince her to take a harder stance, British Prime Minister Julian Gilmore announced the deployment of a Royal Navy carrier group to Ascension Island “to protect British interests.”
12 April
US Secretary of State Lauri Brennan met with her Canadian, Mexican, Brazilian, and Argentine counterparts at the United Nations in New York City. It was decided that a “Pan-American Coalition” fleet would be assembled and dispatched to the South Atlantic as a show of force against further ACF aggression.
20 April
Secretly, France and Cameroon agree to cooperate in a covert campaign against United Congo and the ACF. The operation will base French operatives in Cameroon, who will cross the border and conduct sabotage against government, industrial, and military infrastructure within United Congo.
12 May
The British aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable - escorted by the destroyer HMS Veronica, SSBN HMS Charles Ogle, and SSN HMS River Clyde - arrived at Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The carrier group would join the SSBN HMS Clark and 200 Royal Air Force UCAVs stationed on the island since 2081.
18 May
The Indian aircraft carrier INS Śakti joined the ISTO fleet gathering in the Arabian Sea. Besides the Śakti, the fleet also included one other aircraft carrier, two frigates, two cruisers, four destroyers, and five submarines from India, East Africa, Indonesia, and Australia.
25 May
American aircraft carrier USS Alvin Halsey, escorted by the destroyers HMCS Salish and D212 Montezuma, arrived at Rio de Janiero in Brazil. There, they joined up with the SSNs USS Alaska, USS Puerto Rico, ARA Carlos Busser, and ARA Valentía; the destroyer ARA Bravura; the corvettes V49 Ouro Preto and V47 Cataguases; the aircraft carrier NAe Imperial; and the frigate F Constituição. There, the fleet remained offshore awaiting further orders.
5 June
The Somali Army shot down an East African UAV over Bilis Qooqaani in southern Somalia. In a statement issued several hours later, Somali Prime Minister Murad Samataar Othman declared East Africa’s violation of his country’s airspace “an overt act of war”. The East African Federation placed its military at its highest alert, fearing war with the ACF could be imminent. Civilians in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi fled en masse from the borders with United Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia. An emergency session of the United Nations Security Council was convened and the UN issued a statement urging calm.
6 June
At 10 P.M. East Africa Time (EAT), United Congo and Somalia launched an invasion of the East African Federation. Surprise air and missile strikes were followed by artillery bombardment, armored vehicles, and infantry crossing from United Congo in the west and Somalia in the northeast. Additional Congolese forces crossed the border from South Sudan, though no Sudanese forces participated in the operation. Intense fighting erupted between EAF and ACF ground forces, particularly in Rwanda and Burundi.
7 June
Conventional fighting in East Africa was joined by a series of terrorist-style bombings in Arusha, Nairobi, and Mombassa. Congolese state media reported the attacks as “patriotic Africans rising up against the foreign puppets” in East Africa, but the East African government laid the blame on ACF - likely Congolese Military Intelligence - operatives. A second wave of missile attacks struck military, government, and industrial complexes throughout East Africa. In the afternoon, the cruiser FNS Jaji engaged the Congolese cruiser UNC La Force de Peuple and destroyer UNC Unité 400 kilometers east of Zanzibar, sinking the Unité and leaving both cruisers heavily damaged - this was the first direct naval confrontation between warships in over 100 years. Elsewhere, Congolese and Somali UCAVs attacked and sunk the frigate FNS Shirikisho and corvettes FNS Toro and FNS Ankole as they left port at Manda Island. In India, Prime Minister Chowdhury declared “a state of war” existed between ISTO and the ACF. ISTO forces around the Indian Ocean were mobilized by the end of the day.
8 June
East Africa officially invoked the ISTO defense pact in the early morning, and by sunrise Indian UCAVs had engaged Congolese and Somali UCAVs over the Gulf of Aden. ISTO warships began missile attacks against Somali and Congolese assets in Somalia. In East Africa itself, ACF ground forces had already pushed several kilometers into East African territory, but not without heavy losses to both sides. At the United Nations, a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire failed to pass thanks to an American veto (Britain and France abstained). The Chinese, Russian, and European Union governments issued statements urging both sides to agree to a ceasefire.
10 June
Somali forces invaded and occupied Somaliland, another ISTO member. With the assistance of Indian R&AW agents and Punt resistance fighters, the Somalilanders began a campaign of sabotage and guerrilla warfare in Somalia and Ethiopia.
12 June
The first ISTO reinforcements, from India and South Africa, arrived in East Africa.
13 June
The Pan-American and British fleets began patrolling the South Atlantic, but with orders not to engage unless fired upon. In Europe, the British and French governments petitioned the European Parliament to formally request use of NATO assets against the ACF in Africa, but faced stiff resistance from President Frederick and the anti-war faction. In the United States, news reports showcasing the scale of the war frightened many Americans into opposing direct US involvement and many Congressional leaders publicly urged President Yates to avoid getting America caught up in “a war that could cost more American lives than every other war fought in the last hundred years”.
15 June
France and Cameroon begin a covert sabotage campaign against United Congo, beginning with a bombing at the Kinshasa’s main powerplant. United Congo immediately accuses the West of responsibility, which is immediately denied.
17 June
Congolese forces reach Kampala in Uganda and intense street-to-street fighting erupts with East African ground troops. By this date, United Congo has advanced as far as the western shores of Lake Victoria and had occupied most of Rwanda and Burundi.
20 June
Rwanda and Burundi were fully occupied by United Congo. Resistance paramilitaries, supported by ISTO, began a guerilla war against the occupying forces. The Congolese Army advanced into Tanzania.
28 June
By this date, expeditionary forces from India, Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa had been deployed to fight in East Africa, with additional forces expected to arrive over the next four weeks.
1 July
Fighting in East Africa reaches a stalemate as Congolese forces get bogged down in Moyowosi and Kigosi Game Reserves in Tanzania, in Uganda, and Somali forces unable to move beyond northern Kenya. Fighting becomes particularly intense and brutal in Uganda, as both sides throw their weight into the battles over Kampala and Lake Victoria’s airspace.
5 July
The submarine HMS Charles Oglecame under attack by the Congolese cruiser UNC Unifié and frigate UNC Volonté in the South Atlantic. The Volonté opened fire with depth charges, but the Charles Ogle suffered only minor damage. The British responded with a torpedo, which struck the Unifié and damaged the stern, killing three sailors and wounding 14 others. After a short pursuit, the Charles Ogle escaped. The British government issued a harsh statement condemning the attack and assuring it was only in self-defence, a claim the Congolese denied.
9 July
The Cameroonian foreign minister met with his French counterpart in Paris to discuss possible French military assistance in the event of war with the ACF. The threat has grown significantly in the last few weeks as the French/Cameroonian sabotage campaign has progressed, successfully bombing industrial facilities and assassinating several mid-level officials. United Congo, South Sudan, and Equatorial Guinea have begun moving military assets to the border with Cameroon.
11 July
The ARA Bravura was torpedoed by an unidentified submarine in the South Atlantic, believed to be the Congolese SSN UNC Espadon, killing 21 Brazillian sailors, wounding 14 more, and forcing the ship to return to port in Rio de Janiero. The attack spurred an emergency meeting of the UNASUR executive with the Brazillian government to discuss further diplomatic and military options, but with United Congo denying involvement they ultimately did nothing. The attack sparked widespread anger throughout South America.
12 July
An angry mob stormed the Congolese consulate in Rio de Janiero, setting it on fire and injuring six diplomats. The Congolese government issued a statement demanding an apology and urging Brazil to “keep it’s citizens under control.”
20 July
The ACF officially accused Sao Tome and Principe of “assisting foreign powers in their bid to recolonize Africa” and acting as a base of operations for terror attacks against United Congo. The small island country’s government denied the accusation.
24 July
ACF operatives conducted coordinated bombings in Mumbai, Jakarta, and Sydney, killing 45 people in the three cities and inaugurating a terror campaign against ISTO member states. The United Nations, India, ASEAN, and Australia immediately condemned the attacks as “pure terrorism”, but the ACF denied any involvement and refused to claim responsibility.
29 July
President Lefebvre of France announced that the French Navy would be joining the Pan-American and British naval patrols of the South Atlantic. The French would deploy an aircraft carrier, two cruisers, two destroyers, a frigate, and three corvettes to French Guyana by early September.
8 August
In a major embarrassment to the Indian Navy, their aircraft carrier INS Śakti was sunk by a bomb-laden unmanned drone submersible which had managed to sneak past the ISTO fleet’s defenses and detonate itself directly beneath the ship. The sinking left over 300 sailors dead - the single largest loss of life by the Indian Navy in its history - and sparked dueling anti-Congolese and anti-war demonstrations throughout the country.
10 August
After weeks of persistent accusations and harassment, United Congo and Equatorial Guinea began an amphibious invasion of Sao Tome and Principe. The islands put up so little resistance, the invasion is nearly bloodless. The United Nations issued a statement condemning the invasion, but the Security Council once again failed to deliver on a hardline resolution against the ACF.
14 August
Unable to convince the European Council to step into the conflict, the British government announced it would “move forward” on its own and would unilaterally begin aggressive operations against the ACF. In private, British officials were already aware of the French/Cameroonian sabotage campaign and, along with the Americans, began deploying their own intelligence operatives around this time. France, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina issued statements supporting the move.
15 August
By this date, United Congo, South Sudan, and Equatorial Guinea had moved over 100,000 men to the border with Cameroon. French intelligence estimated the ACF intended to invade Cameroon to put an end to Western sabotage within the next month. President Lefebvre ordered the deployment of French UCAVs and Special Forces to Cameroon.
17 August
British UCAVs conducted the first official British attack against the ACF, striking enemy assets on Sao Tome Island. The Congolese Air Force responded with their own UCAVs, but they ultimately proved mostly ineffectual against the largely superior British models. Missile attacks sunk two Equatorial Guinea warships, the FAGE Quijahierro and FAGE Serpiente, killing well over 100 ACF soldiers.
19 August
Congolese operatives set off a truck bomb in Trafalgar Square, obliterating the facade of the National Gallery and killing 171 people. Prime Minister Gilmore declared the day “a national tragedy and an international travesty,” and swearing “there will be justice, as God cannot allow such evil to persist unpunished.” The Trafalgar Square bombing would only the first in the ACF’s terror campaign against the United Kingdom.
20 August
35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above central Africa, a Congolese attack satellite (ASAT) fired a projectile and disabled a British communications satellite, the first military engagement to ever occur in outer space. The British military did not initially believe the satellite had been disabled by an attack, but instead assumed some sort of on-board failure. It would only be the first in United Congo’s orbital campaign.
22 August
With over a dozen satellites out of commission in the last two days, the British Air Force now believed the ACF had begun using its covert ASATs. The Congolese ASAT campaign was confirmed today by US Strategic Command, the Russian Space Forces, and Chinese National Space Administration. The realization that the ACF had, without provocation, spread the conflict into space sparked outrage in Moscow and Beijing.
23 August
The United States, Russia, and China all issued formal complaints to the United Nations over United Congo’s ASAT program. United Congo both denied the accusations, and countered by pointing out the open secret that all three nations had their own covert ASAT programs.
25 August
The United Nations Security Council passed two resolutions, the strongest yet. First, the UN demanded the ACF end all military operations in orbit or face an armed response. Second, the UN demanded the ACF cease its bombing campaigns in the UK and ISTO member states or face sanctions, with the implication that international military action would follow. United Congo responded by once again denying the existence of an ASAT program, and also denying responsibility for the bombings.
1 September
Shortly after midnight, the ACF - primarily forces from Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and United Congo - invaded Cameroon. An intense air and ground battle erupted in the southern half the country. French forces stationed in the country assisted with the defense, although officially they could only act in self-defense.
2 September
Cameroon formally requested assistance from France. French forces deployed in Cameroon fully joined the battle.
3 September
French UCAVs gained air superiority over Cameroon. The ACF advance halted.
6 September
In response to the ACF’s invasion of Cameroon, continued international terror attacks, and United Congo’s ASAT campaign, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an international military intervention in Africa. The resolution was the result of intense negotiations behind closed doors in New York, but ultimately had the support of all five Permanent Members. Issac Nsungu, in a statement issued shortly after the vote, rejected the resolution and denounced the United Nations, calling the organization “a puppet of the neoimperialists.” In orbit, American and Chinese ASATs begin targeting Congolese ASATs and positioning satellites.
8 September
In a primetime address before both houses of Congress, US President Vicente Yates passionately urged lawmakers to authorize the full use of force against the ACF and to enforce the UNSC’s Resolution. With only a handful dissenting, Congress votes in favor. The Media reports the story as “America declares war for first time in generation.”
10 September
The United States, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina began aggressive operations against the ACF. Officially, the United States began orbital operations on this date. China, meanwhile, has not publicly acknowledged its Air Force’s involvement in the war.
13 September
Additional French ground forces, joined by British Marines, arrived in Cameroon via Nigeria. The Nigerian government publicly acknowledged its support for the Western forces and pledged to uphold the United Nations’ directive to oppose the ACF.
14 September
The ACF sent a formal complaint to ECOWAS protesting Nigeria’s “compliance with foreign interlopers.” The ECOWAS Secretariat replied that the organization was “simply complying with the UN resolution.”
20 September
Fighting in Cameroon stalemates. The ACF is unable to push any deeper thanks to the French, but are numerous enough that international forces cannot easily repel them.
26 September
A series coordinated bombings occur in Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Monrovia, Libera. ECOWAS accuses United Congo of carrying out the attacks, but the Congolese government denies this. The ACF counter-claims that the attacks were carried out by “African patriots” who have “risen up to overthrow the neoimperialist regimes opposing continental liberty.” The attacks killed 141 people.
1 October
Following Britain and France’s lead, additional expeditionary forces from Morocco, Italy, Poland, and Turkey were dispatched to Cameroon. Beyond almost airstrikes and air-to-air UCAV combat, combat forces on either side have moved little in either Cameroon or Eastern Africa. Urban warfare in the Kampala metropolitan area has endured for over three months. By this date, Ascension had become the main staging point for all international forces in the Atlantic theater.
11 October
At 4 AM local time, the Congolese SSBNs UNC Vipère and UNC Noblesse conducted a major ballistic missile attack on Ascension Island, bombarding Georgetown and Wideawake Airfield with Sarin nerve gas. The attack caught British forces completely off guard and proved devastating: over 1,000 people, both civilians and military personnel were killed, and nearly a thousand more suffered from exposure to the toxin. The British government and most of the world denounced the attack as “barbaric”, while the ACF defended the Congolese Navy’s actions as “appropriate” and called the civilian deaths “unfortunate and unintended collateral damage.”
12 October
King Michael of the United Kingdom addressed the nation, calling for a national day of mourning and publicly denouncing the “evil Nsungu regime”. EU President Frederick flew to London and met with both King Michael and Prime Minister Gilmore to discuss what options the European Union could take to assist the United Kingdom. President Frederick’s arrival was met by dueling crowds of nationalist and anti-war protestors. She returns to Brussels afterward and meets with General Adam Morris, Supreme Commander of NATO, at NATO headquarters.
13 October
EU President Frederick, in a globally webcasted address to the European Parliament in Brussels, reversed her anti-war position and announced that “an attack on a European state is an attack on Europe”. Having determined that United Congo’s attack on Ascension Island fell beyond the jurisdiction of NATO, Frederick requested Parliament approve activation of the Berlin Plus Agreement, allowing the European Union access to NATO’s assets, and to approve the creation of an “EU Expeditionary Force” for immediate deployment in Africa. The vote passed with only a handful of MEPs opposing.
14 October
Somali resistance having collapsed under the weight of Indian airstrikes, ISTO forces pushed across the border and laid siege to Mogadishu. Indian and Australian paratroopers dropped into the city while East African forces entered from the south. By this date, Somaliland partisans had expelled ACF occupiers.
15 October
The Nigerian and Chinese foreign ministers met in Beijing to discuss “security and trade issues” following the ACF's attacks on Lagos and other ECOWAS cities. Privately, the Chinese government agreed to send military advisers, UCAVs, and covert special forces teams to beef up Nigeria's defenses in anticipation of ACF forces breaking through the battle lines in Cameroon and directly threatening Nigeria. The move was intended to secure Beijing's alliance with Lagos and prevent ECOWAS from falling further into Europe's sphere of influence.
1 November
After months of stalemate, ISTO forces fighting on the Eastern Front began to win the upper hand over the ACF invaders. In order to fight the war on both fronts, United Congo had to pull significant forces away from the East in order to fight in the West. Some in the upper echelons of the ACF worried that they have overplayed their hand and that they would not be able to bludgeon the foreigners into submission.
12 November
ISTO forces officially cleared Kampala of ACF fighters, ending nearly five months of intense urban warfare. By the end of the day, ISTO began operations to push the ACF out of Uganda entirely.
18 November
ISTO forces cleared Moyowosi and Kigosi Game Reserves of ACF fighters. With their Eastern Front collapsing, United Congolese forces abandoned the Lake Victoria region and began a tactical withdrawal from Uganda and Tanzania to Rwanda, Burundi, and United Congo.
24 November
A combined European Union Expeditionary Force arrived in Cameroon. Already present European forces folded their commands into the EUEF, presenting a unified front against the ACF. Momentum began to swing in Europe and Cameroon’s favor.
30 November
ISTO forces pushed the ACF out of Uganda. Operation VIKERS occurred: Australian Marines attacked and seized the town of Kikura in eastern United Congo. The war had now officially crossed the border into ACF territory.
2 December
ISTO forces, assisted by East African partisans, began operations to liberate Rwanda and Burundi from the ACF. ISTO now controlled the airspace above all of East Africa.
13 December
US and Brazilian Marines arrive in Cameroon. The ACF is now quickly losing ground on both fronts.
14 December
By this date, ISTO forces have completely occupied Somalia and routed any organized ACF resistance. Mop-up operations and the rounding up of ruling party officials began.
15 December
Aminu Davidson, the Vice President of Nigeria and a vocal supporter of the war effort, was shot to death by a Congolese operative in downtown Lagos. Although this was not the first terror attack the ACF had committed against Nigeria, it was the most shocking and the one that most infuriated the general public. Public polling by Reuters had shown support for the war had been hovering at only 39% before the attack, with most wanting Nigeria to stay neutral. After, more than 80% wanted to go to war. United Congo, of course, denied any involvement in the Vice President’s death. In this case, they were only partly lying: while it had been a Congolese operative who pulled the trigger, the Nsungu regime had not given the order - the ACF’s international terror campaign had, by this date, taken a life of its own and many operatives were conducting attacks randomly and at their own discretion without ever receiving orders from Kinshasa. Nsungu had, effectively, lost control of his own weapon.
19 December
By unanimous vote of the Nigerian National Assembly, Nigeria became the first nation in 140 years to issue a formal Declaration of War against United Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and South Sudan. Later in the day, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution validation Nigeria’s declaration as “legal in the eyes of the international community.” The Nsungu regime did not respond.
20 December
Nigerian UCAVs joined Pan-American and European aircraft in combat operations over Cameroon.
31 December
As of this date, every member of ECOWAS had issued a formal Declaration of War against the ACF. A combined ECOWAS Expeditionary Force, made up mostly of the Nigerian Army, arrived at the Western Front. The ACF’s Western Front began to collapse as Pan-American, European, ECOWAS, and Cameroonian forces neared the borders of Equatorial Guinea, United Congo, and the former Central African Republic.
2 January 2086
In the South Atlantic, the Argentine SSN ARA Carlos Busser engaged and sunk the Congolese submarine, UNC Espadon, killing all 140 sailors aboard. Meanwhile in the Indian Ocean, UCAVs from the aircraft carrier INS Ram Dass Katari sunk the Congolese cruiser UNC La Force de Peuple near the Seychelles.
5 January
In an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), Indian Prime Minister Rahul Chowdhury dispelled rumors that the government was planning to postpone elections over the ongoing terrorist campaign. He assured the general public that the elections would go forward as planned in late April.
6 January
Western Forces on the Western Front successfully pushed the ACF out of eastern Cameroon and began combat operations in United Congo-occupied Central Africa.
10 January
Shortly after Western forces captured Berberati in Central Africa, United Congo fired six ballistic missiles and bombarded the front lines in Cameroon with nerve gas. The attack leaves over 800 soldiers on both sides dead and is condemned by the United Nations as a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions. The US, European, and ISTO militaries announced that they would issue chemical warfare equipment to ground troops in Africa. Some in the Media and on the Internet call for the West to deliver a “proportional response” - a few going so far as to suggest tactical nuclear strikes against Congolese military positions.
12 January
In a joint statement presented at the United Nations in New York City, the United States, UNASUR, and European Union declared that they would not resort to the use of NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) weapons despite their repeated use by the ACF. In response to criticisms at home, President Yates later qualifies America’s stance to include “unless the attack occurs on US soil”.
14 January
Behind closed doors, the Nsungu regime initiated negotiations with the Nigerian government for a ceasefire between the ACF and ECOWAS. The Congolese government opened talks by privately apologizing for the death of Vice President Davidson, and suggesting that ECOWAS and the ACF had more reason to be friends than enemies.
18 January
Talks between the Nigerian and Congolese governments collapsed with ECOWAS rejecting the ACF’s conditions for peace - in particular the demand that ECOWAS refuse cooperating with the United Nations, Americans, and Europeans. Isaac Nsungu, upon hearing the news, was infuriated. A “final warning” was issued by Kinshasa, demanding ECOWAS accept the peace terms or “face the consequences.” ECOWAS ignores him.
19 January
The UNC Noblesse conducted a ballistic missile attack on Lagos. While Nigerian UCAVs shot down most of the missiles, one managed to strike the city’s harbor district and release a cloud of Sarin gas. The attack killed 254 people and hospitalized another 331. By this date, United Congo was now commonly using chemical weapons against its enemies on the Western front.
22 January
With ISTO now controlling their airspace and the Indonesian Army as deep as Bandingilo National Park and the outskirts of Juba, Southern Sudan withdrew all forces from Central Africa and the Western Front. While General Harlan Sule, the de jure leader of the country’s military junta, remained defiant, the de facto leader Christian Sule and other major figures fled the capital for Wau in the west.
25 January
ISTO forces secured control of Rwanda and Burundi, ending all major combat operations in East Africa. While East African forces conducted mop-up operations, forces from India, Mozambique, and South Africa marched into United Congo.
30 January
Unsurprisingly, Bharatiya Janata announced Rahul Chowdhury would be their candidate for Prime Minister. With anti-war sentiment high thanks to the ACF’s terror campaign and losses in Africa - most importantly, the sinking of the INS Sakti - Bharatiya Janata was in serious danger of losing control of India’s Parliament.
5 February
United Congo began using chemical weapons against ISTO forces on the Eastern front. The attacks are not as effective, however, due to ISTO having earlier decided to issue chemical warfare gear to soldiers in the field.
9 February
The Leftist Social Democratic Union (LSDU), a coalition of India’s leftist and socialist parties, announced they were nominating Shankar Narang, leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), to be their candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming elections. As the largest opposition bloc in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Narang presented the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Chowdhury’s reelection. Mr. Narang would campaign on a fiercely anti-war platform that promised to dramatically reduce India’s role in the conflict.
15 February
Western forces have liberated roughly 75% of Central Africa. Canadian Special Forces began operations in Southern Sudan, sabotaging supply lines between Wau and Juba.
16 February
The Indian National Congress, currently the second largest party and second largest opposition bloc, announced their candidate for Prime Minister would be Jitendra Darzi, the current Mayor of Mumbai. The INC tried to strike a middle-of-the-road platform that balanced between the BJP and LSDU campaigns.
22 February
India’s Electoral Commission published the polling schedule for this year’s election: Phase One would be held on 18 April, Phase Two on 25 April, Phase Three on 2 May, and the final Phase on 9 May.
29 February
Via their ambassador at the UN in New York, Southern Sudan’s Sule regime privately requested a ceasefire with Western and ISTO forces. Not wanting to suffer the fate of Somalia, their primary conditions were a return to the status quo antebellum and prosecutorial immunity for the Sule family.
8 March
Southern Sudan announced it was officially withdrawing from the Alliance for Continental Freedom and declared a ceasefire. Western and ISTO forces agreed, beginning withdrawal from Sudanese territory. United Congo denounced the move, labeling Christian Sule “a traitor to Africa and liberty.”
The Battle of the Gulf of Guinea occurred: French and British ships engaged the Congolese and Equatorial Guinean navies in the sea south of Nigeria in the largest naval confrontation in a century. The ACF fleet suffered heavy losses. Four vessels were sunk and another five were damaged. Most importantly, United Congo lost one of its three aircraft carriers, the UNC Lance de Liberte The battle was a major defeat for the ACF, effectively breaking the back of their naval power.
10 March
Gabon, an ACF observer, announced it would withdraw from the Alliance for Continental Freedom Treaty.
12 March
Western forces declare the Central African Republic to be liberated. With Sudanese forces withdrawn and United Congo focused on fighting within its own borders, the liberation occurred many weeks earlier than anyone had hoped. By the end of the day, the CAR’s government-in-exile had returned to Bangui.
16 March
The International Criminal Court announced it was dropping all charges against Christian Sule and withdrawing its arrest warrant, a precondition for peace, to widespread and vocal disappointment. While many world leaders privately did not support the decision, they all agreed it was more important to keep Southern Sudan so they could focus energies against the far more dangerous Nsungu regime in United Congo.
20 March
Ethiopia, an ACF observer, announced it would also withdraw from the Alliance for Continental Freedom Treaty.
27 March
The Battle of San Antonio de Pale occurred: American, Canadian, Mexican, Argentine, and Brazilian forces struck at the remaining ACF navies gathering near Sao Tome, obliterating them. In a single day the Pan-American fleet sunk 6 ships, including the last two Congolese aircraft carriers. The remainder of the ACF’s navy scattered, with more than half defecting to Namibia. What didn’t defect returned to port at Acanabor in Equatorial Guinea.
1 April
ACF forces abandoned Sao Tome and Principe, returning to the mainland. On the Western front, Western and ECOWAS forces begin operations in Equatorial Guinea and United Congo. The primary objective of the E.G. campaign focused on taking the Congolese Navy’s base at Acanabor.
3 April
Admiral Marti Panadero, Equatorial Guinea’s dictator, fled the country for Kinshasa. Dutch, French, Polish, Serbian, and Turkish forces, supported by the British Royal Navy, landed on Bioko Island. A bloody fight for the country’s capital ensued against dug-in and heavily fortified ACF forces.
9 April
The Nigerian Army captured Evinayong in eastern Equatorial Guinea.
15 April
After two weeks of heavy fighting, US, Brazilian, and German forces captured the naval base at Acanabor. What little that remained of the Congolese Navy was sunk by American UCAVs while trapped in port.
18 April
First round of Indian elections were conducted without incident. The government attributes this to heavy security measures placed at polling places in an effort to thwart ACF terrorists.
25 April
The second round of Indian elections were conducted, again without incident. In orbit, the last Congolese ASAT was destroyed by a Chinese missile fired from the Yellow Sea. The Equatorial War’s space campaign was over, with the entire Congolese satellite network destroyed and significant damage delivered to global telecommunications. Space debris has increased dramatically over the last year, and the world now faced the serious possibility of a Kessler syndrome.
2 May
Third round of Indian elections were conducted, with several polling places reporting some irregularities and restless crowds. Dozens were arrested.
3 May
Equatorial Guinea’s mainland fell to Western forces. United Congo was now being invaded from three directions - ECOWAS forces closed in on Kinshasa. Western and ISTO UCAVs controlled the airspace over 90% of the country.
9 May
The final round of Indian elections were held. A gunman, possibly affiliated with the ACF, opened fire at a polling place, killing two before being subdued by police. Beyond other minor incidents, the elections ended without further incident.
10 May
Isaac Nsungu, Marti Panadero, and the Congolese military’s senior staff fled Kinshasa for the Congolese interior.
12 May
India’s Electoral Commission released the results of the elections. While the LSDU had won the most seats (followed by Bharatiya Janata and the Indian National Congress), no single party had passed the threshold to form a government on its own. The LSDU and Indian National Congress entered talks to form a coalition government.
15 May
ECOWAS and Pan-American forces reached the Kinshasa-Brazzaville metropolitan area. Heavy urban fighting erupts with Congolese forces.
16 May
The LSDU and Indian National Congress struck a deal and formed a coalition government with Shankar Narang as Prime Minister. PM Narang, in a national webcasted speech, reiterated his campaign promise to reduce India’s commitment to the war in Africa.
19 May
Most of Brazzaville is captured by Pan-American and ECOWAS forces.
27 May
Kinshasa falls. The Nsungu regime and the ACF now controlled less than half of United Congo.
29 May
Retreating ACF forces bomb Kinshasa with nerve gas in a last ditch effort to halt the Western advance. The attack kills 141 civilians, but only one American soldier.
7 June
European forces at last secured control of Bioko Island. The last ACF forces in Equatorial Guinea surrendered, the war was now almost entirely within United Congo.
10 June
Due to the extremely rough terrain, fighting reached a stalemate in central Congo. From this point forward, the ACF halted regular combat operations and fought an irregular war primarily as a guerrilla army. This marked the end of the war’s first phase.