Chapter 142: Three Districts, One Revision
After acquiring all the land along the shores of Lake Victoria, the new territory needed to be divided into fresh administrative districts for easier management and data tracking.
Previously, even northern Kenya was still in a provisional, unassigned state. With Omerate Town's expansion, sparked by the northwestern war, all land west of Lake Turkana also fell into East African hands. Originally, the colony had no presence on the western shore of Lake Turkana, and the lake itself formed a natural barrier that hindered expansion. Back then, the south was blocked by the Kingdom of Buganda and many tribes, making it difficult for the West Kenya District to extend westward.
Now that the entire lakeshore had fallen under East Africa's control, the colony naturally took over the land from Lake Turkana's western side all the way to Lake Albert (also called Frederick Lake). Since much of the region west of Lake Turkana closely resembles northern Kenya's arid, water-scarce climate and isn't suited to agriculture, that territory plus northern Kenya were designated as a single area. In fact, historically, this region was also part of northern Kenya; it's just that East Africa reached it somewhat later.
In this area are many seasonal rivers—a distinct local feature. Given that only the Omo River Basin on the northern side of East Africa is suitable for large-scale farming, Ernst decided to merge all of northern Kenya and the Omo River Basin into one "Northern District," with its capital at Omerate Town. Since the northern climate is dry and many parts of it are grazing land, the population will be relatively small, and a larger administrative area is no issue.
Thus was born the colony's largest district, spanning more than three hundred thousand square kilometers and bordering Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia as they existed in another era. During the first half of this year, when the colony annexed the Omo River area, the Abyssinian Empire was being beaten badly by Britain and couldn't watch over its vassals, so the colony easily seized the territory.
In the colonial period, many countries had no detailed borders, only spheres of influence. Northern East Africa's tribes, for instance, were much like the vassals of big North African powers in principle. Their suzerains ostensibly had grounds to protect them. The Omo River Basin was home to various Black tribes, some subject to the Abyssinian Empire, others independent. While the empire was busy dealing with Britain, it couldn't shield its subordinates, letting the colony take over. When war ended between Abyssinia and Britain, the empire fell into political chaos—each faction grabbing at the throne—so it had no mind to bother its southern vassals' fate.
Once Omerate Town was established, the colony expelled all natives from the region, combined with the earlier forced relocation of northern Kenyan tribes to the south for development. Currently, the pure Black forces in the northern part of the colony remain only in Somalia.
The Sahara Desert is a boundary dividing peoples: to the north is largely White, while its southern edges and beyond are primarily Black. In Somalia, many Black people follow Arab culture, living much like Arabs do—making survival in the desert easier.
Other areas, like northern Ethiopia, are mostly White or mixed. Now that East Africa has driven away the Blacks in southern Ethiopia, with no new inflow of purely Black peoples, Ethiopia will only grow whiter in the future. Historically, Ethiopians considered themselves "Whites darkened by the sun." And East Africa is certain to wipe out purely Black forces around it, so Ethiopia will interact only with non-Black groups. Moreover, northern Ethiopians were already lighter-skinned. In a few hundred years, they might end up about the color of Indians.
Ernst never viewed Indians as White; the original inhabitants were more brown or blackish, with continuous northern invasions slowly making them look somewhat "White." Ethiopia is similar, though being closer to Black populations preserves more Black genetic traits. Cutting Ethiopia off from contact with purely Black peoples avoids a "darkening" of northeast Africa. Maintaining a White majority in that region ensures it won't become "Blacked."
In the newly created Northern District, most people concentrate in the northwest part of the Omo River Basin, especially after large-scale immigration during wartime. The Omo River Basin practices agriculture, while the rest is for livestock. Grazing can sustain few inhabitants, so the planned pastoral areas have little population. Some spots pursue animal husbandry by necessity—like zones not suited to farming for climate reasons.
Besides the new Northern District, Ernst followed past experience in establishing the Great Lakes District and West Kenya District around Lake Victoria by creating two new administrative regions in the conquered areas of the "southern four" and "northern four" kingdoms. However, since the southern four cover only a small zone, it's extended a bit north, up to Lake Albert.
The area of the southern four kingdoms, plus the land between them and Lake Albert's south shore, becomes the "Western Great Lakes District," headquartered at Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika's north bank. The area of the northern four kingdoms forms the "Northern Great Lakes District," encompassing much territory farther northwest. Its capital is at Kampala, in a good harbor on Lake Victoria's north shore.
As for the old "Great Lakes District" (with Mwanza as center), continuing to call it that is no longer appropriate. Previously, East Africa had only part of Lake Victoria, and it was developed quite early, so "Great Lakes District" was fine. But now the entire lake is an inland sea for the colony, so we can't use "Great Lakes District" to specifically describe Mwanza's region. Therefore, to avoid confusion, the old Great Lakes District is renamed the "Eastern Great Lakes District." Beyond the name change, nothing else differs.
In future, "Great Lakes District" is just a geographic concept referring to Lake Victoria and all its surrounding lands. Summarizing: the colony sets up three new districts—Northern District, Northern Great Lakes District, and Western Great Lakes District—while renaming the original "Great Lakes District" to "Eastern Great Lakes District."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10