Chapter 231 Division of Districts into Provinces
After discussions, the leadership of the East African Kingdom decided to establish provinces within the East African Kingdom, similar to Europe; the original large regions would no longer be mentioned.
The kingdom's administrative districts were divided according to factors such as geography, economy, environment, and defense needs, and finally, a rough map was created.
"The northern province of Somali should be delineated along the river's course," an official suggested.
"Hmm! That's not feasible; this province is better off crossing the river."
Felix drew a line between the Juba and Shabelle Rivers as he spoke.
"This way, the entire Shabelle River basin, which includes those oases along the riverbanks, can supply the north with military provisions without needing transportation from the south. Relying solely on the productivity of the land north of the Shabelle River is certainly not enough."
"Hmm, makes sense, next," said King Constantine.
"Should the provincial capital be set in Mogadishu?"
"Mogadishu, being coastal, has a dangerous geographical location and is too far from the mainland; setting the capital there is certainly infeasible. Beletweyne, south of the Shabelle River, would be a good choice."
"I have no objections to Beletweyne as the capital, but a military town should be separately established in the northwest direction to counter potential threats from the northwest corner; both Mogadishu and Beletweyne are too far from here."
"Let's choose the village of Dedradawa then! It's just right at the northern foothills of the mountains, and it's a strategic military point."
"I agree."
"How should we select the provincial capital in the Juba River basin?"
"Like the northern province, one port and one inland city serve as provincial capitals. Although Kismayo is somewhat economically developed, like Mogadishu, it is too far east to reach into the mainland."
"Then let's choose Badabo Town!"
"I agree."
"I have a suggestion regarding South Salzburg Province; the forces on Lake Malawi should be concentrated at the port of Kalonga to manage the Lake Malawi area uniformly, facilitating wartime deployment and coordinating with army operations. It also helps prevent enemies from utilizing Lake Malawi to move northward."
"Ok, then let's integrate the former territory of the Kingdom of Malawi into South Salzburg Province and establish a river and lake team sub-center in Kalonga."
...
May 23, 1870.
After a series of discussions and analyses, the East African government finally made the following administrative adjustments to the East African Kingdom:
Tropical desert climate regions.
1, Turkana Province (capital Omolate). Established with Lake Turkana as its geographical center.
2, Northern Province (capital Beletweyne, Mogadishu Port, Dedradawa military town — to counter British Somaliland, French Djibouti colonies, and the Abyssinian Empire). As the northernmost province, Beletweyne is a city along the Shabelle River.
3, Juba Province (capital Badabo, Kismayo Port). Badabo — a city along the Juba River, crucial for transportation and military.
Due to the tropical desert climate, the areas of these three provinces are vast, but only Turkana Province has considerable arable land and water resources.
Changes in the original South Kenya three major regions.
1, Eastern Province (capital Mombasa). Originally the East Kenya Region, joined with northern parts to expand in area.
2, South Prussia Province (capital Nairobi). Originally the Central Kenya Region.
3, East Great Lakes Province (capital Kisumu). Originally the West Kenya Region.
Changes in the original Tanzania Region.
1, Marine Province (capital Tanga Port). Originally the Upper Marine District.
2, Central Province (capital First Town, with the ports of Bajamojo and Dar es Salaam). Merged with lands from the original Central Coastal Area.
3, Sea Lake Province (capital Xinyuan City, with Mtwara Port, Ron Roda, Songea). Formed by merging the original East Lake Malawi Area with the Lower Marine District, the new provincial capital is located between Ron Roda and Songea in Xinyuan City.
4, South Salzburg Province (capital Mbeya City, Kalonga Lake Port, including the Katanga Plateau and Lake Malawi shores). Originally the Upper Lake Malawi Area, expanded in area, and renamed South Salzburg due to its significant geographical location.
5, Highland Province (capital Dodoma City), originally the Central Plateau Area.
6, Kilimanjaro Province (capital Arusha City), originally the Northern Plateau Area, with the capital moved from Karatuu to Arusha.
7, South Lake Province (capital Mwanza City). Incorporated part of the Big Grassland Area.
8, Hohenzollern Province (capital Kigoma City) originally the Soron Lake Area. Incorporated part of the Big Grassland Area.
The rest of the areas near the Great Lakes Region (almost no change).
1, West Great Lakes Province (capital Bujumbura City).
2, North Great Lakes Province (capital Kampala City).
Western tropical rainforest region.
1, Mitomba Province (capital Jindu City). Tropical rainforest with some tropical grassland climate.
2, Hessen Province (capital Kisangani City). Tropical rainforest climate.
Zambia and Katanga Plateau regional administrative divisions.
1, West Katanga Province (capital Lubumbashi City).
2, East Katanga Province (capital Kazembe City).
3, West Plateau Province (capital Ndola City).
4, Western Province (capital Manggu City).
5, Southern Border Province (capital Lusaka City).
6, Valonga Province (capital Boss City).
Two islands.
1, Bemba Island (New Hamburg City).
2, Mafia Island (Mafia City).
Vassal states:
Zanzibar Sultanate, with stationed troops.
A total of 24 provinces, 26 provincial-level administrative regions, and 1 vassal state.
▼ (Map of the administrative divisions of the East African Kingdom)
The administrative division of the Big Grassland Area was split, with its capital Tabola incorporated into the South Lake Province, becoming the second largest city in that province, after Mwanza.
The northwestern shores of Lake Malawi were incorporated into South Salzburg Province, with the provincial capital still in Mbeya, and Kalonga, as a lake port, remains the second largest city. Additionally, some lands from the Katanga Plateau were incorporated, further strengthening the position of South Salzburg Province as a transport hub, straddling the East African Plateau and the Katanga Plateau.
The unique status of the islands Bemba and Mafia was established, along with the clarified vassal status of the Zanzibar Sultanate.
The newly established Kilimanjaro Province replaces the original Northern Plateau Area, with the capital moved from Karatuu to the more geographically advantageous Arusha (closer to Tanga Port and Mombasa Port, with more open and flat terrain).
The Lower Marine District and East Lake Malawi Area were merged to form the new Sea Lake Province, with the provincial capital located in Xinyuan City (formerly Tongdulu Village) between Songea and Ron Roda.
Moreover, some localities adopted names with Germanic characteristics, mainly New Hamburg City, South Salzburg, South Prussia Province, Hessen Province, and Hohenzollern Province.
The special provinces established by East Africa for national defense mainly include South Salzburg Province, Sea Lake Province, and Northern Province, primarily aimed at countering other Western colonial powers, whereas the regions bordering indigenous tribes had no such need.
With this administrative division change, the East African government will establish governing bodies in newly occupied territories, and begin differentiating between indigenous peoples in regions such as Zambia, exiling the old, weak, sick, and infirm, and annihilating insurgent forces through military actions, using young and strong slaves to fill the "labor" gap in the east.