Mbasewe

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Mbasewe
Nation: Bashenk
Function: capital
Population: 900,000
Leader: none

Mbasewe, by far the largest city in the Confederated Communes of Bashenk, is also the nation's capital. It was built during the colonial era by expanding on a cluster of indigenous villages. It has a hot climate, but not excessively dry; in fact, built on the spot where the river Kut flows into the vast Lake Ngatogo, Mbasewe is located in one of the most fertile areas in the country.

The city houses 900,000 people - roughly 28.1% of the nation's 3.2 million inhabitants. Unlike smaller towns, which often consist in a single commune (autonomous administrative district), Mbasewe is subdivided into a number loosely defined and occasionally fluctuating communes. Each of these is fully autonomous, as there is no permanent national government or municipal authority.

Mbasewe is one of Bashenk's most multi-ethnic cities, home to the various Black ethnic groups, Arabs and Whites as well as the majority Bassè ethnic group (Black).

The capital is a thriving cultural centre. It is home not only to Mbasewe University but also to a great number of theatres, as well as cultural institutions, concert venues, libraries and cinemas. It has lively outdoor markets, a few mosques and churches, and several museums, including the Musée de l'Histoire du Bashenk.

The architecture is a charmingly heterogeneous mix of Middle Eastern and European influences, along with more traditional Bashenké buildings which would seem less out of place in a small rural village than in the heart of a bustling city.

The Presidential Palace is located in Mbasewe, topped with the national flag, but is left empty except when the President moves in temporarily to greet foreign dignitaries.

Mbasewe is served by the small Aéroport International de Mbasewe-Ewana (Mbasewe-Ewana International Airport).