Xerope's rise to power in Zombo was a major setback for the country. After the fall of Pedroko, many citizens held out hope for a new era of freedom and progress, but Xerope quickly proved himself to be an even more ruthless and ruthless dictator than his predecessor.
Xerope further increased repression against any form of political opposition, hunting down and arresting activists, journalists and leaders of civil society organizations. Freedom of expression was further repressed, with government-controlled media and severe censorship imposed on anyone criticizing the regime.
And, unfortunately, Hugo, the leader of the rebels who had fought for freedom, ended up being arrested. Xerope, seeing him as a threat to his power, ordered his arrest and imprisoned him in a secret prison in some remote part of the country.
Hugo's trial was widely considered a farce. He was accused of several crimes he had not committed and sentenced to life in prison. Many citizens of Zombo were outraged by the injustice done to the hero of the revolution, but the regime's repression hampered any kind of meaningful political mobilization.
The country entered a dark period under Xerope, and hopes for a new era of freedom and progress were replaced by fear and oppression.