Both regions have had de facto independence since breaking away in the early 1990s.

BBC: Russian MPs back Georgia's rebels

They say they want their leaders to maintain the political status quo that is, de facto independence while focusing on improving economic conditions.

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As before, they are sure to demand de facto independence, autonomy over finance, control over Kirkuk province, a fixed percentage of Iraqi revenues, and even control over Kurdistan's minerals.

ECONOMIST: Iraq's Kurds

After 12 years of de facto independence, Kurds are champing for a referendum to determine their own future over Kurdish-controlled land that Baghdad wants to integrate back into Iraq.

ECONOMIST: Iraq and the Kurds

If, as is likely, the alliance then breaks up, the southerners must control as much of the south as possible in order to create de facto independence from the north.

ECONOMIST: Sudan��s rebels change their spots

The government's military campaign has so far been a bit less crass, though hardly less brutal, than it was in 1994-96, when perhaps 80, 000 people were killed, Chechnya won de facto independence and Russia was humiliated.

ECONOMIST: To cool the Caucasus