Estado Babilonia: Status Quo

By Lea Celik Sommerseth Shaw

In February, during my work in The Hague, I began drafting the Status Quo for a project that I believe carries historic significance: the creation of Estate Babilonia, a micronation envisioned on unclaimed land in Africa. This initiative is not merely symbolic—it is conceived as a sovereign framework of governance that draws inspiration from the first civilization of humanity, Babylon, and applies those principles of justice, law, and wisdom in a modern context.

The State of Babylon is designed as a cradle for humanity, a place where displaced people, stateless persons, and those seeking new beginnings can find both refuge and dignity. In an era where deportations and forced migrations leave countless individuals without a homeland, Babilonia proposes a constructive solution: to transform displacement into opportunity, and exclusion into participation.

The governance model of Babilonia is based on modern, transparent principles, integrating elements of neoliberal and libertarian thought while ensuring a people-centered approach. Each institution and initiative is structured to serve the community effectively and sustainably, while preserving the triad of justice, freedom, and order as the enduring foundations of the state.

Central to this vision is a unique citizenship process. Those who apply for citizenship in Babilonia will not only find resettlement and protection, but also access to education, civic participation, and shared nation-building. Citizenship will therefore become both a right and a responsibility—anchored in the principle that a nation must evolve with the people who constitute it.

My aim is to secure international recognition for Estate Babilonia, and to advance it through strategic partnerships with investors, civic leaders, and global institutions. This project is not an attempt to rewrite history, but to revive the wisdom of the earliest civilization—the Babylonian principle that governance must serve humanity through law, justice, and freedom.

Estate Babilonia is thus more than a micronation. It is a living model of international governance, one that reflects both the lessons of the past and the aspirations of the present. With the support of its future citizens and partners, Babilonia can stand as a testament to what is possible when vision, resilience, and justice are placed at the service of humanity.

Lea Celik Sommerseth Shaw

28 August 2025 Saint Germain Des Pres