By 2016, Numidia’s fragile democracy was breaking down. The economy remained devastated by the effects of civil war, widespread corruption, and under-investment from international business. Unemployment was extremely high, creating widespread food insecurity and civil unrest.
Groups of men no longer affiliated with the Brigade yet still heavily armed, having poor economic prospects and struggling to survive, began to form semi-organised criminal gangs. These gangs engaged in violence and lawlessness in urban areas all over the country, contributing to a sense amongst most Numidians that their country was barely holding together.
In early 2017, the Berbers Political Alliance splintered. Some, unhappy with this democratic “experiment” and wanting to return to the days of the old regime, withdrew from their positions (in the national assembly, military, police, or other government roles) and regrouped in remote territories in the north-east of Numidia. They called themselves the Berbers Blade (“the Blade”).
The Blade quickly organised and took control of remote territories in the east, removing all Numidian government and political authorities in the area and reinstating the religious rule of the former Berber regime.
Over the years, the Blade was able to take over larger territories in Numidia, beginning with the Eastern Province and moving south-west. They were helped by the fact that the military and police did nothing to prevent or stop their progress. Members of the Brigade not already in government positions began to regroup, forming militias in the Northern Province and attempting to fight the Blade.
The President was unable to overrule the defence minister and by 2018 there were loud calls from the public for the President’s resignation.
This Blade expansion and the violence it brought with it caused some sporadic arrivals of Numidians into Parthia, but due to their territorial control along much of the border, not in large numbers.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Numidian Defence Minister formed an alliance with the Berbers Blades and, with the support of much of the military, enacted a coup to overthrow the President and his administration, quickly taking control of the capital and announcing an immediate return to religious rule. He publicly claimed to be “simply enacting the people’s will”.
Non-Berber military and police, government officials able to escape, and former members of the Brigade attempted to regroup and resist. Widespread chaos and violence erupted throughout the country. This fighting is continuing as the new Berber regime has been unable to conclusively defeat those resisting the coup/regime. Numidia has again returned to a state of civil war.