Sultanate of Hobyo

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Sultanate of Hobyo
𐒈𐒚𐒐𐒆𐒖𐒒𐒖𐒊𐒖 𐒔𐒙𐒁𐒕𐒙 (
Arabic
)
1878–1927
Flag of Hobyo Sultanate
Flag
Coat of arms of Hobyo Sultanate
Coat of arms
The Sultanate of Hobyo in the late 19th century[1]
The Sultanate of Hobyo in the late 19th century[1]
StatusSomali Sultanate
Protectorate of Italy (1888–1927)
Capital
Common languages
Sultan
 
• 1854–1912
Yusuf Ali Kenadid
• early 1912–1925
Ali Yusuf Kenadid
History 
• Established
1878
• Disestablished
1927
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Majeerteen Sultanate
Hiraab Imamate
Italian Somaliland
Today part ofSomalia

The Sultanate of Hobyo (

Arabic: سلطنة هوبيو), also known as the Sultanate of Obbia,[2] was a 19th-century Somali Sultanate in present-day northeastern and central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. It was established in 1878 by Yusuf Ali Kenadid
.

Administration

As with the Majeerteen Sultanate, the Sultanate of Hobyo exerted a strong centralised authority during its existence and possessed all of the organs and trappings of an integrated modern state: a functioning bureaucracy, a hereditary nobility, titled aristocrats, a state flag, and a professional army.[3][4] Like the Majeerteen Sultanate, it was another example of the determination of the independent Somali states to maintain a state free from European colonialism.[5] Both sultanates also maintained written records of their activities, which still exist.[6]

History

Rise of the Sultanate

The sultanate of Hobyo originated from a rift within the Majeerteen. The election of Yusuf Ali as Sultan by Bah Lelkase and Bah Yaqub in Alula (which from the time of Boqor Xawaadane had been designated as the residence of the Bah Yaqubs) was the origin of a dynastic conflict.[7]

Initially,

Arab Salah of Mahri Origin), with their assistance, he managed to overpower the local Habar Gidir clans and establish the Sultanate of Hobyo in 1878.[8][9][10]

Sultan of Zanzibar over an area bordering Warsheikh, in addition to his ongoing power struggle over the Majeerteen Sultanate with Boqor Osman. In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories.[11]

The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in the sultanates' respective administrations.[11] In return for Italian arms and an annual subsidy, the Sultans conceded to a minimum of oversight and economic concessions.[12] The Italians also agreed to dispatch a few ambassadors to promote both the sultanates' and their own interests.[11]

However, the relationship between Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians' proposal to allow a

Dervish forces.[13] Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians, Sultan Kenadid was eventually exiled to Aden in Yemen and then to Eritrea, as was his son Ali Yusuf, the heir apparent to his throne.[14] However, unlike the southern territories, the northern sultanates were not subject to direct rule due to the earlier treaties they had signed with the Italians.[15]

Omar Samatar's Rebellion

Though victorious against the sultan's forces, the populace had yet to accept Italian rule without a fight. Commissioner Trivulzio, assigned with administering Hobyo, reported the movement of armed men towards the borders of the sultanate before and after the annexation. As preparations were underway to continue the Corpo Zaptié's advance into Majeerteen, a new threat emerged. One of Sultan Ali Yusuf's commanders, Omar Samatar, attacked and captured El Buur on 9 November 1925. The local populace sided with Omar, and soon enough the Italians had a full-scale revolution on their hands after Omar followed up his previous success with the capture of El-Dhere. The Corpo Zaptié tried and failed to recapture El-Bur from Omar. By 15 November the Italians had fled to Bud Bud, ambushed by partisans the whole way and rather diminished in forces and resolve.[citation needed]

A third attempt was planned, but before it could be executed the commander of the operation, Lieutenant-Colonel Splendorelli, was ambushed and killed between Bud Bud and

Benadir and Western Somaliland, and Omar grew increasingly powerful. The disaster in Hobyo shocked Italian policymakers in Rome. Blame soon fell on Governor De Vecchi, whose perceived incompetence was blamed for Omar's rise. Rome instructed De Vecchi that he was to receive the reinforcement from Eritrea, but that the commander of the Eritrean battalions was to assume the military command and De Vecchi was confined to Mogadishu and limited to an administrative role. The commander was to report directly to Rome, bypassing De Vecchi entirely.[citation needed
]

As the situation was extremely confused, De Vecchi took former Sultan Ali Yusuf with him to Mogadishu. Mussolini vowed to reconquer all of Hobyo and move on to Majertin by any means necessary. Even reinstating Ali Yusuf was considered. However, the clans had already sided with Omar Samatar, so this was not as viable an option as it would appear. Before the reinforcements arrived, De Vecchi chose the age old tactic of divide and rule, and offered great rewards, money and prestige to any clans who chose to support the Italians. Considering the eons-old clan rivalries which have been the bane of Somali states from time immemorial, it is a wonder this strategy hadn't been attempted sooner, and turned out to be far more successful than the Eritrean regiments in reversing the rebellion. With the steam taken out of the rebellion, and the military forces heavily reinforced with the battalions from Eritrea, the Italians retook El-Buur on 26 December 1925, and compelled Omar Samatar to retreat into Western Somaliland.[citation needed]

The Cumar-Samatar Secondary School in central

Galkacyo is named after Omar Samatar in remembrance of his struggles and sacrifices.[16]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 187420991X
    . Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  2. ^ New International Encyclopedia, Volume 21, (Dodd, Mead: 1916), p.283.
  3. ^ Horn of Africa, Volume 15, Issues 1-4, (Horn of Africa Journal: 1997), p.130.
  4. ^ Michigan State University. African Studies Center, Northeast African studies, Volumes 11-12, (Michigan State University Press: 1989), p.32.
  5. ISBN 978-92-3-101713-1
    .
  6. ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report, Issues 57-67. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1986. p. 34.
  7. ^ Keenadiid, Yaasiin Cismaan (1984). Ina Cabdille Xasan e la sua attività letteraria (in Italian). Istituto universitario orientale.
  8. ^ Helen Chapin Metz, Somalia: a country study, (The Division: 1993), p.10.
  9. ^ Lee V. Cassanelli, The shaping of Somali society: reconstructing the history of a pastoral people, 1600-1900, (University of Pennsylvania Press: 1982), p. 75.
  10. ISBN 1857431162
    .
  11. ^ a b c Issa-Salwe (1996:34–35)
  12. ^ Hess (1964:416–417)
  13. ^ The Majeerteen Sultanates
  14. ^ Sheik-ʻAbdi (1993:129)
  15. ISBN 978-1426983740
    .
  16. ^ "Taariikhda Cumar samater oo kooban". 23 November 2009.

Notes


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