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Zin Zan Tourist Guide

By Paul Hooper

Commander Note: All of GOB's AK47 games take place in the fictional African country of Zin Zan. This article is a breif overview of the terrain, hiostory and forces.

Description of the country | Brief history | The Peoples of ZinZan | Politics and Groups | Natural Resources

"Welcome to wonderful country of ZinZan, the diamond of Africa East Coast.
From the majestic sun blessed mountains of the north, to the exotic jungles of the south, ZinZan offers a colourful holiday destination to the more adventurous. You can mingle with the gaily-coloured natives in the renowned markets of the cosmopolitan capital ZinZanZing, whose happy characters will lighten your day. Or go safari in the wide savannahs of the ZinZanBan, which teem with wild life. For those who wish to enjoy a more restful time journey up the mighty ZinZan River as it snakes upcountry to the famous Ooppoo falls."
ZinZin Tourist Authority 1969.

Description of the country

ZinZan lies on the East Coast of Africa, its coastline consists mainly of the ZinZan River delta, and mangrove swamps.

Jungle and swamp cover the south. The north and west a mountain range the ZinZan Mastiff. These natural features effectively cuts ZinZan off from its larger neighbours and leaves it largely unknown by the world at large.

The centre of the country is largely savannah and farm land and is known as the ZinZanBan (literal translation. . .the bit in the middle)

It has three large cities the capital ZinZanZing (translation the home or kennel of the people of the two headed dog) and Zinbar at the mouth of the ZinZan River, and JoJo to the west in the foothills of the ZinZan Mastiff. The only major road of the country, the Highway National (also known as the road to nowhere) connects all three.

Brief history

ZinZan is first mentioned by the Roman explorer Caius Didus Circero who wrote in 102 AD "Tuesday landed in the land of the two headed dog people, very hot, lots of flies, seem to have got a rash from somewhere, don't drink the water, will leave tomorrow."

The country is next mentioned in 1596 by the Portuguese trader, Lopez Monterey, who stayed a week and reported. "Very hot, got a rash from somewhere, don't drink the water".

In 1619 the Dutch established a post at Zinbar and Wilhelm Van Hoost claimed the country for Holland, in the mistaken belief that this was a gate way to great riches.

Unfortunately, for the next 380 years the country produced little, other than rashes caught from somewhere, and the final resting-places of numerous colonists, traders and government officials. Indeed in 1807, 1856 and 1872 the Dutch unsuccessfully tried to get rid of it to the British, French and Germans in that order.

In 1968 semi independence was granted to the ZinZanese as a self-governing dominion.

The year after, certain natural resources were discovered which changed the economy of the country totally

The Peoples of ZinZan

To the south the majority African ZinZan people live, to the north the minority Arabic Muga people. Needless to say the Dutch colonists contribute 7.5% of the population, but control 96% of the wealth.

Politics

The colonists largely control the semi-independent government with support from various small groups.

The ZinZan are split in a nurnber of different factions ranging from extreme religious groups of various kinds, through various "democratic" movements, to Marxists and even a Royalist faction that support the old King.

The Muga are more united being mainly fundamental Muslims of the more fanatical type. The following is a list of the larger forces:

The Government Forces (D.A.Z.)
The Democratic Army of ZinZan is a well-equipped small army based on a cadre of Dutch settlers supported by native conscripts. Despite its equipment the army is severely stretched in putting down the many forces that oppose it.

The Marxist (M.A.Z.E.)
The Marxist Army of ZinZan and Eritrea is a rough and ready force composed mainly of 'conscripts' from the urban areas. It is supported by the Chinese but since the blockade imposed by the Americans it is running short of heavy equipment and has turned to the use of technicals. Many of its heavy weapons are out of date.

The Evangelical Christians (Z.E.B.R.A.)
The ZinZan Evangelical Brotherhood Righteous Army is a far right Christian movement heavily subsidised by organisations in the USA. Although claiming allegiance to Christian principles this does not prevent from being one of the most blood thirsty of the factions in ZinZan.

The Catholic Christians (L.A.Z.Y.)
The Lords Army of ZinZan Youth is a popular movement, which seeks to impose the Catholic Church on the population. Although it has no apparent outside supporters the imposition of church dues has lead to a well equipped if small army.

South African Defence Force (SADF)
The SADF maintain a small contingent in ZinZan to guard their bases at ZinZangZin and the Zinbar Naval base. Although not strictly a faction within ZinZan they will always side with the government against the different factions. They will also try and avoid conflicts with the UN and any European Forces.

The Communists (C.R.A.Z.I)
The Communist Resistance Army of ZinZan Insurrection is a militia based army with strong Soviet support. All its equipment is ex-Soviet and is fairly old, but the imposition of Political leaders has lead to a formidable army.

The Royalists (Z.A.R.P.)
The ZinZan Armed Royalist Party supports the ex-King Oppo X, although it has a small support base, the army is relatively well equipped with much ex-soviet equipment supplied by neighbouring states. Commander Note: This is my usual force

The Muga (M.D.F.)
The Muga Defence Force is based in the Northern part of ZinZan and is supplied by the Chinese. It is a militia based force with a hotch-potch of equipment, but does have the advantage of hilly terrain.

Other forces that could be involved are the Belgians who have considerable interests in the copper mines, the Americans who own much of the oil refining facilities. And of course there is always the UN........

Natural Resources

Until 1969 ZinZan was largely believed to be devoid of natural resources and largely lived on the produce produced by its farmers. This all changed when an investigation of the delta of the ZinZan River disclosed extremely large reserves of oil and natural gas.

These are now controlled by various US and multi national cornpanies. Following these discoveries a more detailed survey of country was under taken, and lead to the discovery of large cooper and zinc deposits to the north of the country in 1972. Again in 1976 Diamonds were discovered in the West.

The touchpaper is lit. It is now, the situation in ZinZan is volatile, only a small spark is needed for it to explode, if it does the resulting chaos could bring in the super powers and the UN. Are you ready to make that spark?