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Over the past seven centuries, the empires of Africa have grown to encompass the entire continent and beyond; their expansion limited by the Ottoman Empire in the East, they were forced to look across the seas, to the new lands across the Atlantic...

In the north, the Moroccan King and his subject, the Emir of Algeria, wrestle with the Ottoman Sultan for control of the Mediterranean, border conflicts and alliances with the local nomads a frequent affair. All the while, Morocco slowly pushes its way back into Iberia, seizing the lands of 'al-Andalus' from the divided Iberian kingdoms; securing its small colonies in the New World, and continuing to launch raids into the lands to the north, seizing the resources and manpower needed to continue its industrialization. Though the Emir of Algeria may be content to follow the Moroccan King's direction, many in his court are not. Dreams of an Algerian kingdom across the Maghreb are held by some radicals, who may soon take direct action to seize their own empire, at the first sign of weakness. Frequent raids by In Ottoman held Africa, it is the most stable it has been in decades, as the memory of the 1889 'Egyptian Revolt' fades, and the autonomous Khedivate restored; while in Tripoli and Tunis, successful expeditions into Italy, combined with a strong military presence, have kept the population supportive of the Sultan's government.

To the south, the Empire of Mali is in a new 'Golden Age', having subjugated the 'Empire' of Songhai and the Dahomey Kingdom, the Mali are focused on maintaining their colonial empire in South America, competing with the Kongo and Asia over their holdings in the southern continent; the factories and plantations of the New World send rivers of wealth to the Emperor's treasury, while the treasure fleets bring all kinds of goods across the Atlantic from the colonies. The soldiers of the Dahomey and Songhai lands fight alongside Mali across the world; for the state in wars of conquest, and as mercenaries in Europe and North America for wealth and glory...

The Sokoto Caliphate and the Empire of Kanem dominate the region east of the Mali lands, with the rival Caliphate to the Ottomans claiming to be the true leaders of the Islamic world in Africa. Referring to Ottoman Caliph as a false pretender, the Caliphate's soldiers are frequently seen in North Africa, Europe and the Levant, fighting alongside rebels to the Sultan's rule, with the hope to collapse the Turk Empire. These efforts have been unsuccessful in recent years, with the growing stability of the Ottoman Empire, and the Turks have not forgotten Sokoto involvement in their Egyptian Revolt. Kanem-Bornu attempts to remain neutral during this conflict, its rulers still attempting to maintain the balance of power in the region, yet frequent Fulani border conflicts from Sokoto is forcing them into the Ottoman sphere. Likewise, tensions between the two key cities of the empire threaten the lands stability, making it easier for its rivals to exploit. Despite this, Kanem remains the center of African trade, with the historical trade route from Tripoli to Lake Chad being expanded to travel down to the Kongo Empire, and joining with the cross-Saharan trade routes of the north, creating the largest continuous land trade route in Africa, with nearly all of it passing through Kanem-Bornu.

The Kongo Empire has grown within the last three centuries to surpass all of its previous rivals; catapulting itself into the forefront of world politics at a rate never before seen. Expanding its borders rapidly, a mass doctrine of assimilation was decreed in the late eighteenth century, forcing Kongolese culture upon the conquered. Over a century later, this doctrine is seeing results, with the majority of those who either grew up in, or knew an ancestor of, a conquered culture having died and replaced by a purely Kongolese citizenry. The Kongo Empire has spread its colonies across the New World, absorbing the small territories of the incorporated kingdoms in its empire, as well as seizing the colonies of the declining Songhai Empire as it fell to its rival, Mali. In this, the Kongo Empire has created for itself the largest empire based in Africa, as well as a sizeable colonial empire in the Americas.

The Empire of Aksum has survived for centuries under the Solomonic Dynasty, tracing its legacy back millennia, and it is through the guidance of its rulers that is has come to dominate the Horn of Africa and has become a significant force in both East Africa and Arabia, its influence over the Red Sea cannot be ignored. Remaining as the only predominately Christian state in Africa, the land is of great interest to the Pope in Avignon, and vice-versa, despite the key differences between the branches of Christianity. It was through this relationship in the face of the encroaching Ottoman Empire, that the Aksumites may be preparing to take action against the Turk alongside the European Kingdoms.

The lands of Oman are not an African state, but rather an extension of the estates of the Sultan of Oman, on the Arabian Peninsula. Spreading along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa, Oman inevitably comes into conflict with the Empire of Aksum, yet remains confident in their alliance with the Ottoman Empire; were this support to disappear however, the threat of their western rival would become much more serious.

The Mutapa Empire, growing out of the city of Great Zimbabwe, has come to be the preeminent force in Southern Africa, demanding tribute from the Zulu and Xhosa to the south. Likewise, the Mutapa claim the territory to their north, the lands of the Maratha, and a tense standoff between the Empire and the Indian colony has continued for generations, though little more than minor bush wars have broken out along the border so far. The Mutapa are in an unfortunate position to expand; with the Kongo to their direct north-west, the Mutapa would not be able to take them on alone, and with unrest from the Xhosa and Zulu, along with threats from the Maratha, it is unlikely that this circumstance will change soon. However, without a change in the politics of Africa, it is only a matter of time until the Xhosa and Zulu are subdued, and open war with the Maratha is only one diplomatic incident away…

A colony of the Indian Maratha Empire, the Maratha territories of East Africa are in a precarious position; with rivals to the north and south, along with frequent unrest on the mainland and Madagascar, the Maratha Garrison is often stretched to breaking point. However, they have maintained control for over a century, with the Maratha veterans having adapted to the climate and terrain of their colony. This could change however, were war to come to the Indian subcontinent, the Empire might not have supplies and manpower to spare to protect their African holdings, a situation their rivals may exploit.

The Zulu and Xhosa Kingdoms of Southern Africa exist under the watch of the Mutapa, a situation universally resented, but with the power of the Empire against them, a reality that must be accepted. For now. While the Mutapa attempt to subdue their kingdoms, secret communications with the Kongo, Maratha, and even the Aksumites, has promised an uprising in the Mutapa south in exchange for their intervention. The foreign empires are cautious, unwilling to commit to anything while their other rivals are threatening them, yet should something change the geopolitical scales, freedom for their people may be on the horizon.

The Kingdom of the Khoekhoe-San is an anomaly; a land split between the nomadic Khoekhoe and the hunter-gatherer San, the ‘kingdom’ as a state exists merely for diplomatic convenience. A land of tribes, nomads, and petty kingdoms, a ceremonial ‘High King’ is elected for life from amongst the various chieftains and village elders to deal with the representatives of other lands. The most anomalous feature of Khoekhoe-San however, is its existence at all, as it is surrounded to the north and east by two powerful and rival empires. It may be that due to the hunter gatherer culture of the Kingdom, that conflicts outside of its borders are exceptionally limited, contained to the rival tribes of the nation. It has fell into the sphere of various empires throughout its existence yet has incredibly managed to retain its autonomy.

Across Africa, conflict is brewing, one that appears to be involving the entirety of the continent, their empires, and beyond. This next war will see the rivalries and desires of all nations brought to the forefront of politics, and the face of the world will be forever changed by the blood spilled.

Description
Over the past seven centuries, the empires of Africa have grown to encompass the entire continent and beyond; their expansion limited by the Ottoman Empire in the East, they were forced to look across the seas, to the new lands across the Atlantic...

In the north, the Moroccan King and his subject, the Emir of Algeria, wrestle with the Ottoman Sultan for control of the Mediterranean, border conflicts and alliances with the local nomads a frequent affair. All the while, Morocco slowly pushes its way back into Iberia, seizing the lands of 'al-Andalus' from the divided Iberian kingdoms; securing its small colonies in the New World, and continuing to launch raids into the lands to the north, seizing the resources and manpower needed to continue its industrialization. Though the Emir of Algeria may be content to follow the Moroccan King's direction, many in his court are not. Dreams of an Algerian kingdom across the Maghreb are held by some radicals, who may soon take direct action to seize their own empire, at the first sign of weakness. Frequent raids by In Ottoman held Africa, it is the most stable it has been in decades, as the memory of the 1889 'Egyptian Revolt' fades, and the autonomous Khedivate restored; while in Tripoli and Tunis, successful expeditions into Italy, combined with a strong military presence, have kept the population supportive of the Sultan's government.

To the south, the Empire of Mali is in a new 'Golden Age', having subjugated the 'Empire' of Songhai and the Dahomey Kingdom, the Mali are focused on maintaining their colonial empire in South America, competing with the Kongo and Asia over their holdings in the southern continent; the factories and plantations of the New World send rivers of wealth to the Emperor's treasury, while the treasure fleets bring all kinds of goods across the Atlantic from the colonies. The soldiers of the Dahomey and Songhai lands fight alongside Mali across the world; for the state in wars of conquest, and as mercenaries in Europe and North America for wealth and glory...

The Sokoto Caliphate and the Empire of Kanem dominate the region east of the Mali lands, with the rival Caliphate to the Ottomans claiming to be the true leaders of the Islamic world in Africa. Referring to Ottoman Caliph as a false pretender, the Caliphate's soldiers are frequently seen in North Africa, Europe and the Levant, fighting alongside rebels to the Sultan's rule, with the hope to collapse the Turk Empire. These efforts have been unsuccessful in recent years, with the growing stability of the Ottoman Empire, and the Turks have not forgotten Sokoto involvement in their Egyptian Revolt. Kanem-Bornu attempts to remain neutral during this conflict, its rulers still attempting to maintain the balance of power in the region, yet frequent Fulani border conflicts from Sokoto is forcing them into the Ottoman sphere. Likewise, tensions between the two key cities of the empire threaten the lands stability, making it easier for its rivals to exploit. Despite this, Kanem remains the center of African trade, with the historical trade route from Tripoli to Lake Chad being expanded to travel down to the Kongo Empire, and joining with the cross-Saharan trade routes of the north, creating the largest continuous land trade route in Africa, with nearly all of it passing through Kanem-Bornu.

The Kongo Empire has grown within the last three centuries to surpass all of its previous rivals; catapulting itself into the forefront of world politics at a rate never before seen. Expanding its borders rapidly, a mass doctrine of assimilation was decreed in the late eighteenth century, forcing Kongolese culture upon the conquered. Over a century later, this doctrine is seeing results, with the majority of those who either grew up in, or knew an ancestor of, a conquered culture having died and replaced by a purely Kongolese citizenry. The Kongo Empire has spread its colonies across the New World, absorbing the small territories of the incorporated kingdoms in its empire, as well as seizing the colonies of the declining Songhai Empire as it fell to its rival, Mali. In this, the Kongo Empire has created for itself the largest empire based in Africa, as well as a sizeable colonial empire in the Americas.

The Empire of Aksum has survived for centuries under the Solomonic Dynasty, tracing its legacy back millennia, and it is through the guidance of its rulers that is has come to dominate the Horn of Africa and has become a significant force in both East Africa and Arabia, its influence over the Red Sea cannot be ignored. Remaining as the only predominately Christian state in Africa, the land is of great interest to the Pope in Avignon, and vice-versa, despite the key differences between the branches of Christianity. It was through this relationship in the face of the encroaching Ottoman Empire, that the Aksumites may be preparing to take action against the Turk alongside the European Kingdoms.

The lands of Oman are not an African state, but rather an extension of the estates of the Sultan of Oman, on the Arabian Peninsula. Spreading along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa, Oman inevitably comes into conflict with the Empire of Aksum, yet remains confident in their alliance with the Ottoman Empire; were this support to disappear however, the threat of their western rival would become much more serious.

The Mutapa Empire, growing out of the city of Great Zimbabwe, has come to be the preeminent force in Southern Africa, demanding tribute from the Zulu and Xhosa to the south. Likewise, the Mutapa claim the territory to their north, the lands of the Maratha, and a tense standoff between the Empire and the Indian colony has continued for generations, though little more than minor bush wars have broken out along the border so far. The Mutapa are in an unfortunate position to expand; with the Kongo to their direct north-west, the Mutapa would not be able to take them on alone, and with unrest from the Xhosa and Zulu, along with threats from the Maratha, it is unlikely that this circumstance will change soon. However, without a change in the politics of Africa, it is only a matter of time until the Xhosa and Zulu are subdued, and open war with the Maratha is only one diplomatic incident away…

A colony of the Indian Maratha Empire, the Maratha territories of East Africa are in a precarious position; with rivals to the north and south, along with frequent unrest on the mainland and Madagascar, the Maratha Garrison is often stretched to breaking point. However, they have maintained control for over a century, with the Maratha veterans having adapted to the climate and terrain of their colony. This could change however, were war to come to the Indian subcontinent, the Empire might not have supplies and manpower to spare to protect their African holdings, a situation their rivals may exploit.

The Zulu and Xhosa Kingdoms of Southern Africa exist under the watch of the Mutapa, a situation universally resented, but with the power of the Empire against them, a reality that must be accepted. For now. While the Mutapa attempt to subdue their kingdoms, secret communications with the Kongo, Maratha, and even the Aksumites, has promised an uprising in the Mutapa south in exchange for their intervention. The foreign empires are cautious, unwilling to commit to anything while their other rivals are threatening them, yet should something change the geopolitical scales, freedom for their people may be on the horizon.

The Kingdom of the Khoekhoe-San is an anomaly; a land split between the nomadic Khoekhoe and the hunter-gatherer San, the ‘kingdom’ as a state exists merely for diplomatic convenience. A land of tribes, nomads, and petty kingdoms, a ceremonial ‘High King’ is elected for life from amongst the various chieftains and village elders to deal with the representatives of other lands. The most anomalous feature of Khoekhoe-San however, is its existence at all, as it is surrounded to the north and east by two powerful and rival empires. It may be that due to the hunter gatherer culture of the Kingdom, that conflicts outside of its borders are exceptionally limited, contained to the rival tribes of the nation. It has fell into the sphere of various empires throughout its existence yet has incredibly managed to retain its autonomy.

Across Africa, conflict is brewing, one that appears to be involving the entirety of the continent, their empires, and beyond. This next war will see the rivalries and desires of all nations brought to the forefront of politics, and the face of the world will be forever changed by the blood spilled.