North-West Africa

North-West Africa refers to the three countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in the Cyberpunk 2020 pen n paper RPG.

Background & Culture
For centuries, we have interacted with Europe. Sometimes we dominate them, others they dominated us. Unfortunately now we live one of those, but if Allah so wishes, the situation will change.

Morocco is at the same time the best and the worst The Hachemite kings are all snakes, but as all snakes they are devious and cunning. They have got all they want from the Europeans just talking, and they even get money for nothing.

True Muslims, those that follow only the word of Koran, are prosecuted, and brazen women show their faces for all to see. you can see almost no difference between Rabat and any infidel city. Once Tunisia was like Morocco, an EC toady and a touristic resort But they lacked the king, were cheated by the Europeans, bought by them, and letting them do as they want- ed. But infidels don't understand Islam, and the harder they hit us the stronger we become. Now most Tunisians have seen the light of Allah, and the Jihad is underway. As soon as Algiers falls, so will do Tunis. And Europe will know fear.

Algeria is where the tight will take place. The Europeans know it, and they send their best soldiers to hunt us. But always return less soldiers than arrived, and many brothers come from the desert to join the Jihad, even from places whose name we cannot pronounce, like Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan.

Post Modern Islam
Islam has traditionally been a tolerant religion. Unlike the other great religions, however, it has become increasingly less tolerant recently. Now the thoughts of the Jihad burn in young people, and they have lost the respect due to their elders. And the sad fact is that they are right, but they will destroy us all.

The fundamentalist movement appeared as a reaction to western pride, that made them believe that they could control us and impose us their customs. While some accepted them, there was an undercurrent movement to return to Koran as the fundamental truth. Unfortunately there are so many interpretations of the truth of Koran as there are sages studying the Koran. And everybody knows where did this drive us: self- destruction, in that catastrophe called the Meltdown.

Now that same fever menaces the survivors, and it looks like Europe encourages it. They support the secular government, but not strongly enough or expertly enough to defuse the fundamentalist powerkeg. Because violence is not the solution to the fundamentalism. Equality, self-pride and independence is.

Morocco is still free because their people their are prod, and love their king and know their neighbors. And they don't want to be like any of them.

The People
"If you ask me, all Arabs are mad. A mad Afghan with 50kg. of dynamite strapped to him, killed my father, and I don't intend to end the same way. I have worked all around the NAF, always security work, and I still don't understand their minds. For instance the girls. A few are like girls anywhere else. They like presents, perfume, pretty dresses and a bit of cash. But most will denounce you to their father or husband, and wear the chador (veil) voluntarily. Most support the Jihad too, stoning any gal found being friendly with the imperialistic demons. you can't trust the children either. Most only spy on you, knowing we find it hard to shoot a kid, but many teens will tush you with a grenade, but to take you with them. There's no rearguard and no civilians, cause any civilians here died a long time ago. In Tunis, at least they don't knife you just because you are European, if you take care. And believe me, here Yankees are as hated as Euros. There are some heavily protected touristic resorts, where scores of urbanite clones come to have risky vacations in NAF. Amazing. Morocco is like Tunisia ten years ago, but the government has tighter control, so there's some hope for the future. People here smile at you, and it is pleasant to see women faces again, and knowing that people here are after your money, not your head."

- Piotr Grigorian, Solo, Biotechnica, Algiers

Timeline
This shows the events that have occured in the North-West Africa during the time of Cyberpunk 2020.

1990

 * 1997
 * The Meltdown. Libya disappears in a radioactive cloud, partly of its own making. Although they were not primary targets, Tunisia and Algeria take some near hits. The Islamic Movements are shattered.

2000

 * 2000
 * The Wasting Plague expands through the continent, halving the population of the area and solving indirectly many area troubles stemming from overpopulation.
 * 2001
 * Hassan II of Morocco dies of the Wasting Plague after visiting the affected in a Rabat hospital. His son Muhammad takes power and keeps his father policy of closing ties with Europe.
 * 2003
 * Following the Moroccan example Tunisia enters in the EC influence sphere.
 * 2005
 * Algeria is forced by its neighbors and the EC to become another EC satellite. The strong fundamentalist party oppose the move, and there is an increase in terrorist violence.
 * 2006
 * In Europe, "risk" tourism is in. The Chosen areas are Morocco and Tunis, not Algeria where the real risk is.

2010

 * 2010
 * The Algerian government folds under the EC pressure to allow corporate paramilitary teams to combat the rebels. While providing real combat training for the troops, the media coverage of this skirmishes is incredibly popular in Europe, prompting the idea of a dangerous world out there.
 * 2013
 * The anti guerrilla operations extend to Libya, where the rebels keep their training camps and many sympathizers.
 * 2016
 * The Voice of the Wastes begins to preach Jyhad against the westernized countries. (Morocco and Tunis)
 * 2019
 * Although the fundamentalist movement is crushed in Morocco, where the king is also a religious figure, descended from the Prophet; in Algeria it is stronger than ever, and it's spreading quickly in Tunisia.

Reference
RAMOS, J. Eurosource Plus. 1st ed. Berkeley CA: R. Talsorian Games, 1995