# Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid (Yuusuf Cali Keenadiid) > Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid (1837–1911), founder of the Hobyo Sultanate in 1878: his rise, the 1889 treaty with Italy and his exile. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/yusuf-ali-kenadid/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Who was he? Yusuf Ali Kenadid was a Somali sultan who founded the Sultanate of Hobyo, also written Obbia, in 1878 ([Castagno, *Historical Dictionary of Somalia*, 1975, "Obbia"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Hobyo is a port on the Indian Ocean coast of the [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) region. See [the Majeerteen and Hobyo sultanates](/en/history/majeerteen-and-hobyo-sultanates/). "Kenadid" was not his family name. It was a title, said to have been given by his rivals, meaning roughly "he who refuses to be haltered" ([Wikipedia, Yusuf Ali Kenadid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). ## From Alula to Hobyo He was born in 1837 into the Majeerteen (Darood) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). He was not born to the ruling line. He built his own wealth and following (same source). About 1870 he fell into a dispute with his relative and son-in-law, [Boqor Osman Mahamud](/en/people/boqor-osman-mahamud/), sultan of the Majeerteen at [Alula](/en/regions/caluula/). The dispute led to fighting and split the sultanate ([Castagno 1975, "Mijerteyn"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Wikipedia records that he spent some years in Yemen. He then came back with a band of Hadhrami fighters and took control of Hobyo ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). Castagno records a story about his arrival. He brought masons with him, and as soon as they landed they began to build a *garesa*, a stone house that showed his rule over the area ([Castagno 1975, "Obbia"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). The name Hobyo is said to mean "here is water", a Somali image for good fortune (same source). ## The treaty with Italy, 1889 In 1889 both he and Boqor Osman signed treaties of protection with the Italian consul at Zanzibar, Vincenzo Filonardi. Italy paid each sultan a yearly subsidy ([Castagno 1975, "Mijerteyn"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). The treaties said Italy would not interfere in how the sultanates were run ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). Wikipedia notes that he chose Italy as the weaker power, the one least able to interfere (same source). ## Exile His relations with Italy broke down in the early 1900s, during the wars of the [Dervish movement](/en/history/dervish-movement-1899-1920/). Wikipedia says he refused to let British troops land in his sultanate to fight the Dervishes ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). In 1903 he and his son Ali Yusuf were arrested and exiled for a time, accused of working with [Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan](/en/people/sayid-maxamed-cabdulle-xasan/) ([Castagno 1975, "Ali Yusuf"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Wikipedia records that he was sent to Aden and then to Eritrea ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). He died in 1911. His son Ali Yusuf ruled Hobyo from 1911 until Italian forces removed him in 1925 ([Castagno 1975, "Ali Yusuf"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). ## His family's legacy His son [Osman Yusuf Kenadid](/en/people/osman-yusuf-kenadid/) invented the Osmanya script for Somali. His grandson [Yasin Osman Kenadid](/en/people/yasin-osman-kenadid/) helped found the Society for Somali Language and Literature ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Ali_Kenadid)). ## In short Founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo, which he led for over thirty years. --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.