The military branches of rival conglomerates, River Stone Inc. and Shashka International arrived on Isla Duala last week, as speculation surrounding the rights to local diamond mines intensified. As anticipated by this publication, it did not take long for violence to erupt off the West-African coast. RS, in the employ of the Dualan government, and SI, supporting the Takistan-based company Zarga Oil and Minerals, have clashed on Isla Vixena, a small islet off the Dualan mainland.
The docks at Camara, Vixena’s main town, are believed to have been focus of the fighting. Local sources say Shashka were keen to establish a staging area here to facilitate the arrival of the supplies needed to construct a new airfield. This airfield, SI had hoped, would give them the strategic upper-hand if any clashes were to occur with River Stone. Unfortunately for SI, River Stone had similar plans and got to the docks first, securing a key supply depot and the proposed airfield sight. Shortly thereafter, Shashka arrived, and a prolonged firefight ensued in the Camara area.
Shashka anti-tank soldier lies in wait
Having gained the initiative early, River Stone held firm, and despite repeated assaults by Shashka forces, RS went on to not only secure the key objectives, but also to push Shashka’s lines back and gain control of an SI forward command post and a radar site. Shashka, having lost their foothold on Vixena, were forced to withdraw to their camp on the Dualan mainland.
Despite gaining the advantage in the opening skirmish, a point of concern for River Stone was the local support for the Shashka assault force. Eye-witnesses report that a civilian helicopter was seen dropping off SI combatants, and various light vehicles were seen to be assisting the Russians’ assaults on RS positions. It is thought that the Dualan National Alliance, a local separatist group, are behind this, though they have yet to acknowledge their involvement. The military strength of the DNA is unknown, but any ally of Shashka is sure to concern RS, despite their assistance not proving successful in this instance.
Unknown DNA rebel seen at Shashka base
It is thought that River Stone will now proceed with the airfield construction plans, which is sure to enrage Shashka, who saw Vixena as the ideal secure gateway to Duala.
Meanwhile, on the Dualan mainland, tensions are rising, and there is much concern among the locals of Kinsella, the Dualan capital. A reliable source has informed this publication of the intent of the DNA to attempt to secure the city, by force if necessary, in the coming days. Whether Shashka would assist the separatists in such a move, and whether it would be in their interests to do so, remains to be seen. Such a move by the DNA rebels would surely signal their intent to attempt a coup d’état in the near future.
To counter-act this threat, it is thought that the Dualan government will attempt to lock down the city and declare martial law until such threats have subsided. If this is true, River Stone are sure be at the heart of the operation, as the Dualan Armed Forces seem to consist of little more than a few typists, two off-road vehicles with small Dualan flags attached to their hoods, and a dedicated sand-bagging team.
Zarga Oil and Minerals, the Takistani company of which Shashka are the majority stakeholder, who are currently in control of Duala’s diamond mines, would stand to benefit greatly from the ousting of the current government. Given their reported good relations with the DNA rebels, a new Zarga-friendly regime would see their long term interests on Duala secured.
River Stone will be keen to see this uprising dealt with as quickly as possible. Their budding relationship with the Dualan Government is in jeopardy, and with that, the potential to move in on any diamond mining opportunities if Zarga were to be ousted from the region. In addition to this, recent history has proven that anything that can be done to impede the progress of their bitter rival Shashka is a top priority for RS.
With so many players involved and such high stakes, the next two weeks are sure to be explosive on Isla Duala, but who will be first to play their hand??
