Ila

Ila Sherbro
Protectorate
Flag Coat of Arms
Nickname(s):  Sherry
Motto:  "Glory be to the Republic, democracy we must defend"
Location of the Ila Protectorate
Sovereign state	Liberta
Libertan settlement	743
Protectorate status	819
Autonomy	May 16th, 1707
Founded by	Hadrian the Great
Government	Protectorate
• Governor	Layemin Augustus
• Vice Governor	Asi Icarus
Legislature	Senate of Ila
Area
• Total	600 km2 (230 sq mi) (2nd)
• Water (%)	negligible
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population
• 2022 estimate	560,448 (2nd)
• 2020 census	558,234
• Density	933.333/km2 (2,417.3/sq mi)
Currency	Libertan Dollar (LRD)
Time zone	UTC-1 (UTC)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+38
ISO 3166 code	LE-2
Website	ila.gov.le

The Ila Protectorate (Libertan English: /aɪlɒ/), officially the Sovereign Protectorate of Ila, often shortened to just Ila, and also colloquially known as Sherbro, is a protectorate of Liberta. It encompasses the entirety of Ila Island and is situated on the coast of Sierra Leone. Several smaller islands and skerries surrounding the island are also part of its territory. It is the second largest and most populous of the Libertan protectorates. Ila has a population of roughly 560,000 and maintains a high degree of autonomy. The judicial capital of Ila is Malacia, situated on the eastern coast, whilst the largest city, the economic and cultural capital, is Acta Calet on the southeastern shore of the island.

Inhabited before and since the arrival of Libertans, the Sherbro people were the first inhabitants of Ila. Archaeological evidence suggests they lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Libertans arrived in the 700s, looking to expand their agricultural production. Upon their arrival, Libertans employed the local population in voluntary work camps, deeming colonization by force to be too dangerous. In 819 the colony was granted protectorate status, and the military instead spearheaded the operation. Libertan settlers looking to work the land arrived in waves during the 14th and 15th centuries, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was granted autonomy on May 16th, 1707. The industrial revolution swept across the island, and in the 20th century, the protectorate was further modernized. Beginning in the 1950s, the infrastructure allowed the tourism industry to flourish. During the Sierra Leonean Civil War, the strategic military importance of the protectorate allowed for it to act as a base for British, UNAMSIL, ECOMOG and Libertan troops. Ilan politics are generally focused on topics such as illegal immigration and sovereignty. In the Libertan political sphere, Ila is generally staunchly opposed to immigration and socially conservative. Conversely however, the island hosts a thriving casino culture and dominant tourism industry, with the nightlife of Acta Calet considered among the best in Africa. Since the cusp of the 21st century, Ila has been a firmly interconnected part of Liberta both economically and logistically.

As the second largest domestic producer of agricultural products, excluding olives, by a considerable margin, the Ilan government has been able to leverage a considerable amount of autonomy compared to other protectorates. Maintaining a strong agrarian culture, the main economic sectors have historically been centered around farming and ranching, especially in the central regions. In modern times, this has largely been superseded by manufacturing, heavy industry and a growing domestic tourism industry. In the wake of a fast growing tourism focused economy, there is a growing and widespread income inequality in Ilan society. The historic isolation from Liberta, differing climate and proximity to other ethnic groups has resulted in a unique Ilan culture. Though historically frowned upon by mainland Libertans as "low culture", the Ilan culture is today frequently celebrated and embraced in both the media and in general as a unique aspect of Libertan culture. Often likened with the portrayal of Australians, Ilan people are frequently portrayed as relaxed and familiar with nature. Following the gradual ousting of native Africans in the 14th and 15th century, Ila is today a largely homogeneous country. Though a small minority of native Sherbro remain in the northwestern regions of the island, they constitute less than 5% of the total population of the island.

Etymology

The origin of the name Ila, originally spelled Ilha, is unknown, but was used since the Libertan discovery of the island, as shown in texts from the eight century documenting the exploration of the island. Some historical linguistic evidence points to the word likely originating from the Classical Latin word īnsula, meaning "island".

Sherbro is the name used to denote both the native African people of the island, as well as the island itself. The Sherbro people have historically inhabited the island until their ousting in the 14th and 15th century. The nickname Sherry is also derived from the name.

History

Before Libertan arrival

Not much is known about the island before Libertan arrival, due to the absence of written history. Modern archaeology suggests that the Sherbro people have inhabited the island for at least a thousand years. Though little is known about their style of life, it was likely similar to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of nearby tribes. The Sherbro maintained a fishing based economy and traded by boat with neighboring villages along the coast. Swamp-rice cultivation was the main farming activity on the island.

Arrival of Libertan explorers (743–819)

Bust of Hadrian the Great, who discovered Ila on behalf of Liberta in 743.

The overcrowding and lack of resources of the impoverished Liberta sparked an interest in exploration and a search for new lands which could be used for farming and resources. In the spring of 743, the Libertan convoy of Pristinus and Aequor, led by Hadrian the Great departed from Liberta proper. They traveled along the coast of Morocco, stopping by Agadir where the crew took great interest in the town of Imsouane. However, unable to purchase the town outright, they continued to venture south. Following stops in Gambia and Ghana, but without coastal contact with the wealthy Ghana Empire, the crew relied on trade with local tribes along the coast. By the late summer of 743, the convoy arrived at Ila. Hadrian, yet to have yielded any major success in trading nor in finding a good location for a colony, promptly established the colony on the second day of anchorage. Scouting of the area proved that what was initially believed to be a peninsula was instead an island. The locals proved to be friendly, but Hadrian documented that he was nonetheless disappointed by their "primitive way of life." Half of the crew were left on the island, before Pristinus and Aequor departed for Liberta.

It is widely believed that Hadrian and the remaining crew widely oversold the resources of the island to the government, as they were granted a considerable amount of material and men to return to the island to establish a colony. After securing funding and permission from the military, the crew returned to the island by the winter of 743. Skilled laborers, architects, planners, fishermen totaling in excess of 150 were brought along. Two companies were sent to assist and to protect the Libertans. As the initial crew left on the island comprised solely of men, Hadrian was disappointed to see that many of them had taken a liking to the local women, many becoming parents by the arrival of reinforcement. Learning the ways to cultivate swamp rice, the first Libertan farmers were taught basic agriculture. Lieutenant colonel Petronius deemed a subjugation by force to be too dangerous, leading to the establishment of a voluntary work camp. Maintaining an alcohol monopoly, the local workers were paid in wine. Food was promptly exported to Liberta, whilst tree plantations were set up across the island. Workers were also taught to speak and to write Vulgar Latin, whilst the native language was discouraged though not expressly forbidden according to Petronius himself.

Initial doubts were raised by senators, in 743 at the discussion of resource allocation for explorations, senator Vergil of Garana stated "there is considerable uncertainty whether it will be an island of more than mere barbarism [...] I for one, am doubtful of it". The colony proved itself to be more prosperous than anticipated, and by the year 800 logs show that it exported nearly 60 thousand tonnes of rice per season. The fertility of the soil and the abundance of wood made the island an excellent provider of food. Any geographical advantage was instead largely overshadowed by the importance of securing its resources. By 819 this concern had grown so great, as for the government of Liberta to officially grant Protectorate status for the island, and replaced the civil leadership with a solely military one.

Early history as a Protectorate (819–1000)

Etching of Libertan military barracks on the island

As the military took control of the island and its production, the few civilian and Ilan born Libertans became subject to military restrictions. They could no longer receive or purchase alcohol, court with the natives, nor could they trade with the local tribes. This caused many to flee into the deep marshes of the northwestern part of Ila, where they lived as outlaws. As they were by that point considered to have rescinded their allegiance to Liberta, any found outlaws were to be killed on sight. Under the hand of the Libertan Navy, production increased further and was greatly expanded in scale. However, despite the increase in numbers, mainland Libertan attention had largely steered away from Ila onto other protectorates. As a visitor, di-consul Cassian the Benevolent, upon his return, described the island as "lost in time's trenches." The rule of the Navy is by historians generally considered to have brought a judicial and societal order to the island. Buildings and infrastructure became standardized through regulations and planning.

Despite relations with the local women being a criminal offense, this was a popular past time with the soldiers. Whenever a colored baby was born, the responsible soldier had to claim the baby in a process nicknamed "the claim of shame", such a claim resulted in a dishonorable discharge. By the year 988, roughly three quarters of soldiers who were stationed ended their stay by being dishonorably discharged for illegally impregnating a local. Although the fate of the biracial born during this time remains unknown, the West African haplogroup E-M2 has been found in some white Ilans today. This suggests that they were absorbed into the larger white population.

Libertan Imperial Era (1000–1600)

Despite the poverty of the island, the rendezvous of towns were often lavishly decorated. A Sherbro woman can also be seen, ensuring that the incense flame is alive.

After decades of military rule, the strict control of the Naval government was relaxed, and by the 14th century, mainland Liberta was increasingly internationalized. A greater public knowledge and increased curiosity in the foreign, brought attention back to the isolated protectorates. This eventually spread to Ila, when the government of Liberta proclaimed and subsequently ordered that settlement of the island was to be initiated. Men and women, most of them impoverished, joined the journey on the hundreds of boats heading for the island. A few had luck, but most ended up as either domestic workers or sharecroppers on the new estates of the island. Mass anger ensued, as many had been promised a better life, when most returned to similar arrangements as back home. Still, even those who were farmhands, the least prestigious occupation, lived under significantly better circumstances than those with equivalent jobs in mainland Liberta. All farms were still required to export all food that was not consumed to the Libertan mainland.

The lot system was introduced in 1366, early on in the settlement efforts, and its purpose was to maintain societal order. The entire island, excluding the Sherbro marshes in the northwest, was split up into thousands of lots. The system worked on a first come, first served basis. On a total area of 550 square kilometers, two thousand lots were established, allotting roughly a quarter square kilometer per family. Since roughly 10,000 settlers arrived before the settlement effort was shut down, only a fraction of the families and people received their own lot. By 1380 the system had effectively disintegrated, as through purchases and agreements, the number of lots had shrunk to 600. Most were bought out by early settlers, who transformed their lots into massive estates, some covering tens of square kilometers.

Sherbro expulsion

Anticipating the large number of settlers, the Navy began a gradual and complete expulsion of the native Sherbro population in 1365, the majority of which now spoke Latin, some could also read and write. The practice was considered necessary in order to secure farmland for the white settlers, and although evidence of overt and violent racism being widespread is lacking, the native Sherbro were ultimately considered of less importance than native Libertans. The expulsion occurred under the threat of violence, though no records indicate that deaths occurred. Those who could not speak fluent Latin were ousted to the neighboring mainland. Those proficient in Latin were sent to the islands of the strait, or to the Imsouane protectorate as laborers. Those who could also read and write in Latin were sent to the marshes of the northwestern part of the island and were granted land to farm on. Many Sherbro however, were coloreds, descendants of both white Libertans and native Sherbro. Whether the expulsion applied to these individuals is unknown, although logs from the period note of a woman "of seven eights fair skinned, one eight dark," who was not expelled. If this was due of the color of her skin is not known.

Townships

The lot system proved to initially isolate farmers, and many chose to sell their lots to estates to move into villages. These villages grew quickly becoming quite large, and the Naval government took notice of this growth. In 1420 it introduced a system wherein several lots (or estates, or both) combined to administratively become a county, with a town seat. This made administrating the protectorate easier, and by 1430 eight counties existed. These were initially massive entities, for example, Ardus County controlled most of the western half of the island, placing over 200 square kilometers under its jurisdiction. Towns became the cultural and educational centers of the island, hosting a small number of schools, theaters, and libraries.

Distinct culture

By 1560 the population of the island is estimated to have been over 30,000. Following many generations who had now lived their entire lives on the island, a distinct culture began to emerge around the cusp of the 1600's, according to several anthropologists. The isolation from mainland Liberta sparked one of the first examples of Ilan separatism, though most of the landed gentry of the island had a deep allegiance with Liberta. As the island lacked both universities, advanced medical care, and other luxuries of the Libertan mainland, most of elite the island traveled to Liberta to become educated, before returning to their estates. This led to the island trailing in virtually all fields of knowledge, excluding agriculture. Still under military rule, there was no room for any serious attempts at separatism to occur.

Autonomy, second wave of settlers and slave trade (1600–1830)

Unlike in mainland Liberta, women in 17- and 18th century Ila typically wore scarfs to cover their hair.

Whilst Liberta experienced the Age of Enlightenment, Ila became an important center for the Atlantic slave trade. Though few if any slaves were boarded from the island itself, many ships waited in the deep harbors of Ila, waiting to cross the Atlantic ocean. Following the Treaty of Tordesillas, Portugal had a near complete monopoly over west African slaves, and Portuguese ships frequently resupplied at Ila. By the 1690's the Royal African Company, Dutch West India Company, and the South Sea Company were all operating from or using Ila as a transfer point. As Liberta could take a small amount of tax for each ships' guaranteed safety, the Libertan central government acquired significant wealth from this arrangement. Little of this however, was ever used in Ila. This continued to nurture local resentment toward the Libertan mainland. At the same time, the countless interactions and agreements with both the Kingdom of England and the Dutch Republic fostered a golden era of diplomacy with Europe, solidifying Liberta as a European actor. Liberta, not formally engaged with any European conflicts, took great advantage of its political neutrality, as Ila welcomed English (later British), Dutch, Portuguese, and French ships. The geographic location of Ila was also close to the quickest route to Dutch Brazil, and it therefore served as the last stopping point before the ships transatlantic journeys, where vessels stocked up on supplies.

Self-rule

Following the Great Reform of 1707 and the establishment of the modern Libertan Republic, all protectorates were granted autonomy and by extension, self-rule. On May 16th 1707, the Naval government was officially disbanded and replaced with the Government of Ila, which was a democratically elected leadership. Several new parties gathered, though two parties were particularly popular, the Loyalists and the Republicans, in total controlling 37 of the 41 seats. The Loyalists wanted to maintain and in some aspects increase the relations with mainland Liberta, they were in that aspect loyal to the Libertan central government. Meanwhile, the Republicans advocated for further self-rule, and its most radical group, for complete independence. The popularity of these two political lines and increasing polarization between them, evident by the violent brawls outside of the Great Hall of Decision, was indicative of a greater split in Ilan society. Most of the landed gentry and elite were Loyalists, who favored close ties to Liberta proper, whilst the underprivileged and impoverished favored further autonomy.

Second wave of settlers

Plantations, such as this one outside of Meadow, employed hundreds of laborers.

A renewed interest in Ila occurred in the 18th century, following its newly granted autonomy. As a way to increase economic output and to effectivize the agriculture of the island, the Ilan government initiated a series of campaigns to get settlers from Liberta proper to emigrate to Ila. This proved immensely successful, and by 1870 the population of the island reached 89,000. Most of the new settlers moved to the towns, rather than to settle as farmers. This, in turn, prevented a collapse of the preexisting lot-system. Though unpopular with the Republicans, many of which claimed that the entire campaign was an attempt to import more Loyalist voters, it saw the economic output increase up to tenfold in some counties. Along with increased labor, the settlers brought with them the industrial revolution. As Ila industrialized, factories in the now bustling Malacia transformed the raw resources of the island into processed goods, which could be exported at a higher price. Additionally, food preservation increased the amount of fresh produce that could be exported to Liberta.

The end of harboring slave ships

By 1807, both British and American efforts to ban slavery had succeeded. Liberta, wanting to maintain good diplomatic ties with the newly created United States, and especially its now close political partner the United Kingdom, effectively outlawed any slave ships from using any of its ports the same year. It was expected of the protectorates to institute similar bans, not because they were legally bound to do so, but as a show of unity. All of its protectorates followed suit, except for Ila. Whilst the question to outlaw slave ships was a rather trivial question in other protectorates, it was conversely a highly important economical issue in Ila. The Ilan government had, following its autonomy, built large parts of its wealth on taxing the slave ships using the island's harbor. In an act of defiance, the Republican-held Ilan government instead relaxed the taxes on the slave ships, effectively encouraging more slave ships to stop by. This initiated the Ilan crisis, after three separate requests by the Libertan central government to follow suit and outlaw slave ship harboring, and before diplomatic relations with the US and UK could sour, the government of consul Lux Vitus initiated a military intervention. On April 22nd, 1808, a fleet of twenty corvettes and ten ship of the lines arrived to the island, this was among the largest shows of force the Libertan Navy had done. After three days of deliberation, no agreement could be reached, and Fleet Admiral Viator Deodatus declared to open fire along the shoreline. Libertan troops made landfall along the southern and southwestern beaches of the island. The Battle of Ila lasted only for two days and six hours before a peace treaty was signed. The Ilan government outlawed slave ships from entering its waters, and the Libertan government agreed to transfer the 2023 equivalent of $550 million dollars as compensation for the lost future income from slave vessels.

Industrial revolution and Anglicization (1830–1900)

The industrial revolution had swept across Liberta beginning in the 1770's, following intense trade with the United Kingdom. Most protectorates however, lagged significantly behind. Despite Ilan goods being the largest domestic import of raw resources, the industrial revolution would not reach the island until 1800, and would not reach its full potential until the 1830s. By then, public corporations such as the Ila Lumber Company were the main forces inciting industrial improvement on the island. The company constructed large factories across the island, and an industrial center arose in Extra, the westernmost town on the island. Although ships had traditionally favored the protected harbors along the strait in the east, new shipbuilding techniques allowed for larger ships to carry more goods. These ships, as a result of their size, also preferred the deeper shores of the western coast. The factories, being coal powered, were dirty and heavily polluted the towns they were built around. Since the factories could produce lumber far quicker, the forests could not replenish quickly enough. As such, the various corporations instead began to import wood from the neighboring Sierra Leone Colony. By 1814, virtually all wood exported from Ila was Sierra Leonean in origin. As the industrial towns were dangerous and dirty, children of factory workers were sent to farms in the countryside. This practice, known as refuging, was first documented in 1803, and was by the 1820's prevalent enough to warrant new schools to be built in the rural towns.

Anglicization

In 1867 the Great Language Transition was among the first Imperial laws to be drafted and implemented, as such Libertan protectorates were forced to adopt English as its official language, and Latin as its national language. This change was particularly quick in Ila, mainly due to the strong trade relations with the British Sierra Leone Colony. Evidence points to many, especially in the harbor towns of the island, being able to speak English. Though rural communities were slower to adapt to the new language, by 1895 a large majority (>85%) of inhabitants of the island were proficient in English. Though many streets and minor places were renamed to English names or anglicized, towns retained their Latin names.

Industrialization and war effort (1900–1945)

The fast paced industrialization of the island in the late 19th century would slow down by the cusp of the 20th century. Despite the various dangers associated with industrial work, a considerable portion of the working population had moved from the plantations of the interior to the factories of the coastal towns. This depletion of rural workforce resulted in the mechanization of the large farmsteads, with domestic tractor manufacturers such as E. H. Smith experiencing rapid expansion. Meanwhile, as the industrial capacity of metropolitan Liberta decreased, the increasing investment in the industry of the island exacerbated this trend further. Shipbuilding, steel production, and other heavy industries relocated to Ila in particular, mostly due to its flat and open landscapes. Blue-collar work thus remained the norm of the island, leading to a significantly slower modernization of various aspects of society. The comparatively small and only university on the island, the University of Ila in Malacia enrolled less than 2,000 students, and only 3% of the island was university educated in 1947, compared to 61% in metropolitan Liberta. The island's industrial capacity became an important part of the Libertan war effort during the Second World War, in which many of the various airplanes, trucks, and ships of the Libertan military were produced. Due to its lack of proximity from Axis forces, the factories and military bases of the island remained important throughout the war. Additionally, support equipment for the Royal Navy was exported to British Sierra Leone in the later stages of the war.

Casino culture and brief independence movement (1945–1980)

The industrial boom which followed the war led to an increased national acknowledgement and investment interest from metropolitan Liberta. This, along with a prospering film industry, resulted in the interest of business magnate Charles T. Joseph, who constructed the Hotel Regency, the first casino in Liberta. Due to restrictive gambling laws in metropolitan Liberta, Ila became a lucrative location for resorts and casinos. The island also proved popular for domestic tourism, which was amplified significantly during the jet age, with Air Force Base Hadrian refurbished into a large capacity airport. The Regency and similar establishments were located several miles from the city limits of the then only city on the island, Malacia. Positioned near the long beaches along the southwestern coast of the island, the group of resorts and hotels were incorporated into Acta Calet, a settlement with no corporate income tax and run by the casinos themselves.

The vivacious and sometimes debauched nightlife surrounding the casinos in Acta Calet harshly contrasted the socially conservative climate of the rest of the island. However, owing to its comparative remoteness on the island, far from the fertile farmlands in the north and the industry of the northwest, and its proximity to the only major airport on the island, the casino industry was largely left to its own by the local government. By the 1970's however, the political climate of the island had been significantly altered by the influx of new inhabitants from metropolitan Liberta, settling in Acta Calet in order to support the growing entertainment and hospitality industry. As a result of the Great Reform of 1707, Libertan citizens who relocated to a protectorate permanently are limited by a 1-year period before being able to partake in local elections, and simultaneously being barred from participating in elections in metropolitan Liberta. The large influx of new voters who were for the most part considerably more socially liberal and progressive resulted in major wins for the liberal Republican party in the 1970's. The party, which was also pro-autonomy, increasingly emphasized independence as a goal for its government. The administration voted to reform the title of the island to include the word "Sovereign" and to include it in all government ministries, agencies, and associated entities. It also instated the current flag of the island, which replaced the Libertan flag, and signed into law that all government buildings were to hoist the Ilan flag above the national flag. Simultaneously, the Loyalist party became a mouthpiece for much of the socially conservative, native population, and strongly protested many of the changes of the Republican administration. Protests and clashes between sides erupted in 1977 and 1978, before the two parties split into four. The resulting parties were two pro-autonomy parties and two loyalist parties, covering both sides of the political spectrum respectively.

The debate surrounding the casino and entertainment industry soured, with sharp disapproval from the socially conservative side of much of the unregulated adult entertainment industry thriving around the establishments. A failed attempt to outlaw gambling in the Ilan Senate failed in 1979, resulting in a violent brawl inside of the house. In 1980, the libertarian political dark horse James R. Abrams unexpectedly won the governorship, and managed to deescalate the polarization by decentralizing political power to the counties of the island. In 1982 the Cross-Strait Bridge was constructed between eastern Ila and the coast of Sierra Leone, which provided easy transport of goods between the two, and aimed to somewhat lessen the dependence of Libertan imports.

Urbanization and contemporary history (1980–)

By 1981 all but four counties had banned gambling, Malacia, Extra, Acta and Calet county. These were all highly urbanized areas with high population density and modern amenities, infrastructure and entertainment. Despite being a comparatively small island, the difference in quality of life and culture between the cities and the countryside was considerably noteworthy. In the rural bayous of the northern coast many homes lacked running water, whilst luxury brand stores and Michelin-starred restaurants inhabited the cities of the south. This divide was in part further amplified by the highly decentralized system of government, which governor James R. Abrams had increased further. The island-wide government did not generate a sizable revenue from the casinos and resorts, since it did not levy virtually any taxes on those establishments. Instead, the revenue and reinvestment from taxes largely remained inside the counties they were situated in. As the cities continued to expand, suburbs sprawled out across county lines and into rural counties, which resulted in both local conflicts and awareness of the basic and straining conditions under which much rural Ilans lived. Following the release of the highly successful documentary Jungle Albinos in 1991, the awareness of the widespread poverty and poor quality of life in northern Ila increased significantly. It is credited with helping to ensure that the tax system of the island was reformed and the Sovereign Improvement Fund (SIF) was established by the Senate in 1992. The SIF allocated tax income from the wealthier southern counties toward the impoverished northern counties, and rapidly expanded local infrastructure, electricity grids, and other services. By 1996 nearly 97% of the homes in northern Ila had access to running water and over 70% to asphalt roads, compared to an estimated 15% and 8%, in 1991.

As Liberta formally joined the Sierra Leonean Civil War in 1997, it also deployed thousands of Ilan troops into the country. Although largely unimpaired by the neighboring war (as it was mostly fought in the northern provinces of Sierra Leone), it nonetheless deeply affected Ilan society and culture. The increasingly heavy presence of military troops on the island and the bombings of the Strait Islands in 1998, the Ilan independence movement lost much of its popularity. The conservative loyalist Unite Party won the election of 1998, and lobbied for the establishment of a new Libertan naval base in northeastern Ila. It also established the Sovereign Border Force (SBF), as well as the Sovereign Counter-terrorism and Intelligence Agency (SCIA). As a result of the war, the Cross-Strait Bridge was closely monitored, and on the Ilan end a large point-of-entry toll and inspection facility was constructed.

As the rural population of Ila were rapidly lifted out of poverty, rapid urbanization transformed much of the countryside counties into depopulated areas by the early 2000s. Conversely, the improved infrastructure and access to the north of the island provided many northerners with an improved ability to move or work in the southern counties. In 1998 the "Ranch line" was established by the neighboring county to Acta and Calet, Bey County. The ranch line aimed to limit suburbanization and to preserve the property and lands of ranchers who used the dry lands of the center of the island. It became emblematic of the complicated attempt to preserve the cultures of the rural counties with the highly urbanized and densely populated southern coastline.

2014 Ebola outbreak

Following reports of Ebola in nearby Guinea in March 2014, the Government of Ila issued a travel warning to the country, but did not curtail Guinean transports entering Ila. As the infection rate was confirmed to be extremely high, the Sovereign Border Force began refusing entry to Guinean vehicles and travelers in April.

Geography

Satellite image of Ila, with colors adjusted.

The main island, Ila Island, has an area of roughly 600 square kilometers. At its longest and widest, it is 51 km long and 24 km wide. It is located off the coast of Sierra Leone, separated from the mainland by a river in the north and a strait in the east. These waterways contain many skerries and islets, known as the Ilulas. Off the western extremity of the island, the Keeles archipelago stretches further west into the Atlantic. With the Keeles in the west, and the coast of Sierra Leone in the north, they together form the protected entrance to the Ilan river and strait.

Most of the island, especially the southern areas, consist of sparse forest and arable soils. The northwestern areas along the coast are swampy, with dense vegetation and hundreds of small rivers. The south of the island consists mostly of regosol soil, whilst the northeastern part is dominated by fluvisol. The sandy southern shoreline is generally unfit for agriculture.

Fauna

Both Leatherbacks and Green sea turtles use the waters of the island as breeding grounds, with the southern beaches often used for nesting. The many rivers of the island are rich in Tarpon, some of the largest recorded specimens have been caught in Ila. African manatees are widely distributed across the river delta north of the island, in the Sherbro river system. They have been sighted along the northern coast in the swamplands of Ila, and have been a protected species since 2003.

Government and politics

Law enforcement

Border force

A Sovereign Border Force Predator B drone taking of from AFB Hadrian.

Unlike all other protectorates, Ila maintains a judicially separate and autonomous border force, the Sovereign Border Force (SBF). The force was established in 1969, as the rapidly modernizing Ila began to regulate free movement to its only neighbor, Sierra Leone. According to the Government of Ila, the official role of the SBF is solely to curb illegal immigration. The force and its officers are heavily armed and are authorized to use lethal force, which it has used several times against Sierra Leonean immigrants, often to sharp criticism from mainland Liberta and human rights organizations. The SBF is subordinate to the Government of Ila, but lacks any regulatory bylaws, making it significantly more autonomous than the Ilan police force. It is organized as a protectorial force, with several regional corps. These are subordinate to the central command, so county and municipal governments maintain no control over their regional SBF counterparts. Despite its generally positive perception in Ila, the SBF is often negatively viewed in mainland Liberta. The force has also caused international relations issues between Ila (as Liberta) and Sierra Leone. In August 2012, following a situation which resulted in two immigrants being shot and later dying of blood loss, the Sierra Leonean consulate in Malacia recalled several of its diplomats. In response, the SBF increased its controversial drone surveillance and interception program. The Sovereign Border Force and its perceived use of excessive force is a contentious topic, both in Ila and Liberta.