Leaders and statesmen
Sultan Osman Ahmed of Geledi (Cismaan Axmed)
Osman Ahmed (died early 1920s) was the fifth and last Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate, based at Afgooye, succeeding his father Ahmed Yusuf in the 1880s. He made peace with the Bimaal, led Maay-speaking forces against the Dervishes at the Battle of Hudur, signed protectorate treaties with Italy in 1902, and saw Geledi placed under direct Italian rule by 1911.
Sultan Osman Ahmed of GelediCismaan Axmed · Osman Ahmed Yusuf
- Lived
- ? to 1920s
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- 1500 to 1884; Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920; Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who was he?
Osman Ahmed was a Somali ruler, the fifth and last Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate, who died in the early 1920s (Wikipedia (Somali), Cismaan Axmed). He was the son of Sultan Ahmed Yusuf and succeeded him in the 1880s (Wikipedia, Osman Ahmed). Wikipedia, citing the historians Lee Cassanelli and Virginia Luling, says Gobroon power weakened under his rule as former allies claimed independence (same source). See The Geledi Sultanate.
Peace with the Bimaal
Unlike his father and grandfather, he made peace with the Bimaal clan, lifting sanctions on Merca and letting the town trade with the hinterland (Wikipedia). In the mid-1890s his forces defeated the Hintire clan downriver (same source).
Ethiopia and the Dervishes
Wikipedia credits him with repelling an Ethiopian invasion of the Rahanweyn lands (Wikipedia). Talks with the Dervish movement of Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan broke down, partly over the killing of Sheikh Uways al-Barawi, which Wikipedia attributes to the Dervishes (same source). Wikipedia says more than 30,000 men from almost all the Maay-speaking clans, led by Sultan Osman, defeated the Dervishes at the Battle of Hudur and pushed them out of Geledi lands (same source). See The Dervish movement.
Italy
After the Lafoole incident of 1896, an Italian inquiry gave conflicting evidence about Geledi involvement (Wikipedia). Osman signed protectorate treaties with Italy in 1902 (same source). By 1911 the Geledi state had formally ended and was placed under direct Italian administration, though he remained the leading traditional figure in Afgooye until his death (same source).
In short
The last Sultan of Geledi, who fought the Dervishes at Hudur and saw his state absorbed by Italy in 1911.
Sources
- Wikipedia (Somali), Cismaan Axmed · so.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Osman Ahmed · en.wikipedia.org
Sultan Osman Ahmed of GelediCismaan Axmed · Osman Ahmed Yusuf
- Lived
- ? to 1920s
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- 1500 to 1884; Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920; Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
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