Nsanlosa

[Rogue]

Haradesa - Defense minister Zakia Ushan has announced a 50% cut to the defense budget this year, resulting in nearly 1 billion worth of cuts to be implemented. While long expected, it still comes as a blow to the military, which had already been in a state of decay following years of neglect. The cuts will directly contribute to paying for the already announced tax cuts as well as a planned infrastructure project in and around Haradesa meant to alleviate the worsening state of infrastructure around the capital. The cuts will directly affect the military, which will become the weakest it has been in its history. Under the cuts, conscription will be completely abolished, resulting in 200.000 conscripts being let go and a army of just 30.000 active soldiers. Besides conscription, all branches of the military will sell of large portions of their stored equipment, with only the smallest of stockpiles to be maintained for defense. Ongoing military procurement projects are to be halted and at least 800 officers should be fired. The defense ministry will also work with Armed Forces Command to let go of nearly half of the active generals, admirals and high ranking personell through "natural leave", meaning that if one retires, none will be hired in their place. 

The cuts are certain to significanly weaken the armed forces, but are necessary to free up funds for improving the economy and day to day lives, according to President Salehe. Critics have pointed out that the cuts will leave the country defenseless, getting rid of a majority of its defensive capabilities. Others have called it a "purge", seeing the firing of countless of officers as a way to cleanse the military of its politically active members. Minister Ushan has rejected these "conspiracy theories", instead explaining the projects that need to be funded. 

The majority of freed up funds will be funding the "Haradesa Rebirth" project, which seeks to repair and improve road systems in and around Haradesa, as well as reconstruct the "North-south highway" which used to connect the port city of Mariazi with the capital. Years of instability, corruption and economic stagnation have let to that highway being nearly unusable. With the freed up funds, the Ministry of Infrastructure seeks to rebuild the NSH. Besides road infrastructure the funds will also be used to repair utilities, with electricity being a near luxury across the country and sewage nonexistant. While not enough by a long shot to fix everything, some of it would be enough to partially repair sewage and electricity infrastructure in the capital. 

The remaining 100 million will be used to cover costs for FLEX tax cuts, already announced several months ago. All in all the government seeks to improve the situation in the capital, with the city having grown from 20 million to nearly 24 million residents in the last 10 years alone. Only if the capital nominally functions and the economy improves may the rest of the country benefit from the improved situation. President Salehe thanked his ministers and the Nsanian public for their sacrifices, promising "a better tommorow" but warning of a "hard present."