So, it's three seperate areas with almost nothing in common bar mutual distrust and dislike. It's been held together by a strong man for the last 40 years.

Sounds familiar... Rather like Iraq or the Ottoman Empire.

Turn a frown upside down - if there is a natural part that the rebels hold that is a "sensible" division, get it recognised as an independant country and job done. Sudan is another recent case where a large country with no unifying reson detre bar force has finally split. Why not this one too? From what Idaho is saying, if the Rebels were to win they would probably start to favour themselves over the other two areas as was the case previously.