User:Iaof2017/sandbox12
Background
[edit]Following centuries of Ottoman dominion, Albania declared its independence on 28 November 1912 in Vlorë, under the leadership of Ismail Qemali and other prominent figures of the Albanian Renaissance. The decline of the Ottoman Empire, alongside the rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, formed an opportunity for Albanians to proclaim their right to self-determination. While the nation's independence was recognised by European powers through the treaty of London in 1913, the borders formed by the treaty excluded significant Albanian populations, particularly in Epirus, Kosovo, and Macedonia, which were incorporated by neighboring states. This territorial settlement heightened regional tensions and deepened internal divisions, as various factions within Albania vied for control over the disputed territories. The outbreak of World War I further destabilised the region, with the nation subjected to the occupation of multiple foreign forces. At the war's conclusion in 1918, Albania's territorial integrity remained unresolved, with its borders still contested by surrounding states, which continued to challenge its territorial claims.