Citizens of South Africa!
Following the recent Presidential Debate, several important questions were raised about the future of South Africa.
Unfortunately, the Emperor was not present to provide the objectively correct answers.
A tragic oversight.
So, in the interests of democracy and because apparently simply declaring “The Emperor knows best” is considered insufficient policy, I thought I would give the Imperium of Man's position on some of the major topics discussed.
One of the questions raised during the Presidential Debate was whether South Africa needs new people in government.
In that regard, the Imperium of Man may be the clearest answer available.
Our entire party is new to national government.
None of us have previously held the Presidency or served as Ministers within the South African government.
We are not simply reshuffling the same administration and changing the names on the doors.
What we do have is a growing amount of experience.
Members of the IOM have served in Congress, participated in South African politics, taken part in national discussions and continued learning how War Era's political, military and economic systems operate.
We are gaining that experience now.
And if elected, we would bring a genuinely new group of people, new ideas and a different direction into government.
Experience is valuable, and we will always listen to veteran players who know more than we do.
But experience should not become an excuse for the same people to govern forever.
Every experienced leader was inexperienced once.
At some point, someone gave them an opportunity.
Now we are asking South Africa to give us ours.
The Imperium represents new blood.
And perhaps South Africa could use some.
Another important point raised during the debate was that South Africans need a reason to become stronger fighters.
A purpose.
Something that makes investing months of time and resources into developing a powerful war build actually feel worthwhile.
The Imperium has one.
Our goal has never been complicated.
Unify Africa beneath South African leadership.
Expand our borders.
Capture territory.
Strengthen our position on the continent.
And give South African fighters regular opportunities to fight battles that directly benefit their own country.
If we ask a citizen to invest their time, money and resources into becoming a powerful war build, then they deserve to know what they're becoming powerful for.
Under the IOM, the answer is simple:
You're becoming stronger so we can defend our territory.
You're becoming stronger so we can conquer new territory.
You're becoming stronger so South Africa can win its own wars.
You're becoming stronger because we intend to build a country that actually has ambitions worthy of its fighters.
There should be excitement when South Africans log into the game.
There should be another campaign being planned.
Another objective on the horizon.
Another piece of Africa waiting to be brought beneath our banner.
A nation with no goals gives its warriors no reason to improve.
The Imperium has goals.
Very large ones.
None of this means that the Imperium opposes alliances.
Despite certain rumours, our foreign policy is slightly more sophisticated than pointing at every neighbouring country and screaming:
“HERETIC!” (Even if they are heretics, who don't believe in the IOM and Imperial rule)
Strong allies are valuable.
South Africa should build relationships with nations that respect us, cooperate with us and are prepared to stand beside us when we need them.
We should honour our agreements.
We should help our friends when they genuinely need us.
We should participate in foreign battles when doing so strengthens our alliances or advances South African interests.
But there must always be one fundamental principle behind our foreign policy:
We are electing a government to lead South Africa.
Our citizens are South African.
Our soldiers are developing their characters to fight for South Africa.
Our resources are generated by South Africans.
Our government exists to advance South African interests.
Therefore, South African objectives must receive the highest priority.
There is an important difference between:
Helping our allies
and
Making our allies' wars more important than our own.
We should not be building an increasingly powerful South African military simply so that our strongest fighters can spend the majority of their time winning wars and territory for somebody else.
If an ally genuinely needs our help?
We help them.
If supporting an ally protects South Africa strategically?
We fight beside them.
If participating in a foreign campaign advances our long-term interests?
Send in the Legions.
But when South Africa has an important offensive underway...
When South African territory is under attack...
When we have an opportunity to expand our borders...
When our own national objectives require our soldiers...
Our resources.
Our coordination.
Our strongest fighters.
Our government's attention.
South African objectives receive priority.
Once our own position is secure, we can turn outward and help our friends.
That is not abandoning our allies.
That is ensuring South Africa remains strong enough to actually be a valuable ally in the first place.
This distinction is important.
South Africa First does not mean South Africa Alone.
It does not mean isolating ourselves from the rest of the world.
It does not mean betraying allies.
It does not mean refusing to help anyone but ourselves.
It means every major diplomatic, military and economic decision should ultimately answer one question:
If helping an ally protects our strategic position?
We help.
If an alliance gives South Africa valuable military partners?
We maintain it.
If fighting overseas benefits South Africa in the long term?
Our soldiers march.
But South Africa should never become merely another country's source of soldiers.
Our allies should benefit from having South Africa beside them.
And South Africa should benefit from having them beside us.
Partners.
Not masters and servants.
The Imperium wants a South Africa capable of standing on its own feet and standing beside powerful allies.
We do not want South Africa to survive because other nations protect us.
We want South Africa to become so powerful that other nations are glad to have us protecting them.
During the debate, people asked questions about motivation.
How do we encourage more citizens to become war builds?
How do we bring new people into government?
How do we keep South Africans active?
How do we give people a reason to invest in the country?
Perhaps the answer is simpler than we make it.
A new political movement they can become part of.
A government where new people can gain experience.
A military with an actual objective.
A nation that intends to expand its borders rather than merely maintain them.
A South Africa whose strongest fighters primarily fight for South African victories.
Give our citizens a reason to look at the map and think:
“I helped put that there.”
Give our soldiers territory worth fighting for.
Give our Military Units campaigns worth preparing for.
Give South Africa ambitions worthy of the people investing their time into making it stronger.
That is what the Imperium of Man offers.
We are new.
We are learning.
We are ambitious.
And we have absolutely no intention of spending our first term sitting quietly behind the borders we inherited.
The Imperium's position is simple.
New blood in government.
New opportunities for people who want to become involved.
A reason for South Africans to become powerful fighters.
Strong and mutually beneficial alliances.
South African battles taking priority over foreign ones.
South African territorial expansion.
South African interests first.
Our military policy revolves around South Africa.
Our diplomacy revolves around South Africa.
Our expansion revolves around South Africa.
And ultimately, our vision revolves around creating a country that South Africans actually have a reason to fight for.
The rest of Africa awaits.
And after that?
Well...
Terra is rather large.
For the Emperor.
For South Africa.
For Humanity.