Banija

Banija officially the Kingdom of Banija, is a country in southwestern Atlantian Oceania. A nation with a coastline, it shares land borders directly with two countries- Timuria lies just across Banija's northern borders, while Geisenfred lies across Banija's eastern borders. The nation shares maritime borders with two more island AO nations, as it shares a maritime border with the island nation of Farfadillis to the South, and with the Busoga Islands to the West.

Etymology
Banija, as you can tell, is not a word that is native to the tongue of most Banijans, Olusanke. Banijans believe that the word Banija was given as a national name, directly by God, to the leader of the nation at the time. When Mormonism was originally started, the original believers were the Kasanke Tribe in northwestern Banija, the modern-day Moravica region. When they were expanding to take over the rest of modern-day Banija, and eventually the Busoga Islands, God told them to establish a unifying name for the whole country, so their unity would be preserved. He dictated the name Banija, and that became the name of the country.

Foreign relations
Under Banija's constitutional system, foreign policy is not set by the elected Government- legally it is the sole purview of the Kabaka. Banija's constitutional founders firmly believed in the theory that politics should 'stop at water's edge', and that taking foreign policy out of the hands of the elected government meant that there would be more continuity in Banija's foreign policy. Furthermore, once the heir to the throne reaches 25 years of age, the Kabaka is required to appoint the Isebantu(Crown Prince) as his Foreign Minister.

In practice, with defense policy being set by the elected Lukiiko(Parliament), and the power to tax falling into the hands of the elected Lukiiko, control of Banijan foreign policy flows back and forth between the elected government and the divinely appointed Government. Often depending on issues taken by the elected Government, and depending on the relationship between the Kabaka and the Katikkiro(Prime Minister), at different the influence of one or the other in the general direction of Banijan foreign policy can rise and fall. In recent times, thanks to the Banija/Farf Nuclear Incident, Kobe Aziri has taken a much more active role in foreign policy than his predecessors.

Banija has many nations that are considered allies and friends. Banija's Foreign Ministry ranks bilateral relations between five countries "Top-Priority Relationships." Legally speaking, this designation, which much be signed onto by His Majesty the Kabaka himself, these five nations are considered the closest allies of Banija. The Kabaka can add or remove nations from this list at his whim. THe elected Lukiiko, also through a vote, can add nations to this list.

Banija also has priority relationships, which are a step down from Top Priority relationships. These are bilateral relationships that the country strives to improve over time.

Top-Priority Relationships
 * 1) Royal Kingdom of Quebec
 * 2) Eshan
 * 3) Equestria
 * 4) Commonwealth of Baker Park
 * 5) Siovanija & Teusland

Priority Relationships Valanora Timuria Busoga Islands Ko-oren Mriin Vilita Eura (Euran Oceania Territories are also specifically listed as a priority partner, even if they are part of Eura) Liventia Kelssek Taeshan Sarzonia Cassadaigua Free Republics Qasden Geisenfred Qusmo Hapilopper Newmanistan Ranoria South Covello

All other countries, besides Farfadillis, have normal relationships. Following the Farf-Banija nuclear incident, Banija has invested heavily in rebuilding Farfadillis after the nuclear attacks. Farfadillis lacks a formal national government that the Banijan government can have diplomatic relations with. Because of this, Banija maintains the "Banijan Institute in Farfadillis", which acts as an embassy equivalent. The Chairman of the Banijan Institute in Farfadillis is given a rank equal to that of a Top Priority Relationship Ambassador Banija.

The country is also in a number of multi-lateral organizations, the most prominent of these is the Quebecois Commonwealth of Nations.

Largest Cities
Banija has 11 cities with a population of over half a million people. Italicized cities are the capitol cities of their respective region. The City of Busukuma is coterminous with the National Capitol Region. Istria is an Olympic city, having co-hosted the XIV Summer Olympiad.

Languages
Olusanke, a native dialect and the dialect of the majority tribe, the Kasanke, is the most widely spoken language throughout all of Banija. It is a language spoken by all tribes and ethnic groups in Banija. It is the language of primary and secondary educational instruction(K-12), the language of faith, the language of the law, and the language of mostly all proceedings. It has been deemed by the Banijan Government the only official primary language in the country. Infamously, the Banijan citizenship test is only given in Olusanke, and can be seen as a barrier for immigrants who want to become citizens of Banija.

There are a number of foreign languages that are given 'popular foreign language' status by the Banijan government. The three languages that are given that status in Banija are English, French, and Korean. French and Korean, while taught at a few schools, are not languages that are spoken in Banija. English, however, is the only language in the country besides Olusanke that is widely spoken. Most Banijans speak English as a second language, and plenty of people can get by not knowing Olusanke if they have a good command of English. Anybody in Banija has the right to request legal proceedings against in one of the 'popular foreign languages' of Banija, if they demonstrate lack of command of Olusanke.

Outside of those, there are official 'minority languages', for small tribes and clans in Banija that do not speak Olusanke as their native tongue. These languages are designated minority languages. The Banijan Government officially recognizes 13 different minority languages. Government services can be guaranteed in these languages only in regions where the specific minority language is spoken.

There are very few, non-recognized languages that are spoken within the country. Small migrant communities may speak whatever local tongue they came to Banija with, but Banija generally encourages groups to at least learn English, or Olusanke if they can.

Sport
See Sports in Banija