Northern Somali Sultanates (1850-1921)

In the mid-nineteen century, two prominent sultanates ruled North of Somalia once, an area stretching as far west to Erigavo from Las Khorey. One of the most respected heroes among Warsangeli sultanates was Mohamoud Ali Shire. The other Ugaas (leader) of Warsangeli, Ugaas Dhahar ruled South of Sanag and some portions of Eastern Somalia region. Both were valiant, aristocratic in nature and had incredible leadership.Ugaas Dhahar fought against the Abyssinians and uprooted Christian communities in Galgala town who had churches and temples that are still present as monumental. In honor of his accomplishments (Sultan Dhahar), his name bears not ephemerally but eternally on the great valley and mountains of the city known as Dhahar. It is important to note that the downfall of the Dervishes was brought about by the stiff resistance of the sultanate Mohamoud Ali Shire.

Though Sayid was one of the arch-enemies of Warsangeli, he was admired by the heroic bravery of Ugaas Dhahar. He said,

1-Arbow Dhahar sidii aarkiyoo kale waa laga ufoodaaye
2-Askartiisu waa laga yaqaan taniyo Iimmeeye

1-His gallantry, Dhahar is greatly feared as the lion
2-His soldiers are known as far as iimeey (remote town in Ogaden region of Ethiopia)

Initially, Internal defiance amongst Warsangeli had an effect at this juncture of Sultan Mohamoud Ali Shirreh's rise to internationally popular and powerful known leader. Bihidor clan (Warsangeli subclan) first withdrew their loyalty and support from the Sultan, thus making unflinching decision to join the Dervishes and defeat the army of the Sultan. In Robert L Hess's article, "The 'Mad Mullah 'And Northern Somalia" cites this alliance. "In attempt to break out of Obbian-Mijertein circle, the Mullah sought closer alliances with the Bahidor Warsangeli of British Somaliland and Bah Geri of Ethiopia"(Hess, 423).

The Dervishes and their lots planned ahead their venom routes and strategy of destruction. (In fact this was their gravest mistake in attacking a country that the English treated different from the way it treated the rest of the protectorate). The Sultan ordered his army to retreat from their main military posts in Erigavo (which was at that time a reserve well for the sultan horses and base for his army) following an unexpected onslaught. Sayid Mohamed Abdule Hassan's alliance with Bihidor clan was instrumental in expanding his Dervish sphere of influences as well as stretching the size of his dominions. On March, 3 1905, Italy entered treaty with the Mad Mullah at Illig, and he was offered Nogal territory. Thus, this new protectorate raised the concerns of both the Mijertein and Warsangeli sultanates in which they foresaw dangerous wave of tides immersing their protectorate particularly after the treaty. once again, Hess cites the first Anglo-Italian success against the Dervishes. "The first success in this Anglo-Italian cooperation came in December 1910. In that month, the British Warsangeli and Italian Mijertein peacefully resolved all their outstanding disputes and, convening in Bander Kasim, agreed to act jointly in combating Muhammed Abdullah and his Dervishes.....The Mijertain--Warsangeli accord led to a common offensive against the Mullah, whose forces were cut off from arms and munitions smuggled in from the coast,"(Hess, 427). In 1920, the Dervishes unexpectedly captured Badhan and besieged LasKhorrey. The British presidios at Aden soon sent RAF biplanes to contain the advancement of Dervish into Warsangeli territory.

Though the air strikes that bombarded Badhan, Jidali and Talex never did a considerable harm to the Dervishes. They were still powerful but dispersed into unknown areas. Finally, forces of Warsangeli and Dervishes met at Jidali and this was in fact the final decimation of the Dervishes. "The Mijertein Somalis who in June succeeded launching counter-attack with the aid of their Warsangeli allies....Mullah and his followers were driven out of Italian Somaliland into British Somaliland, where they occupied Buhotleh with great cruelty and oppressed the Dolbahante who had shifted their allegiance back to British Somaliland," (Hess, 428). The Dervishes deserted the Nogal Protectorate as a result and disappeared into the deep jungle of Hawd Reserve Area.