Abdullahi Sadiq

Abdullahi Sadiq was an influential Harari businessman and governor of Ogaden in Ethiopia.[1][2]

Early days

Abdullahi in the early 20th century had business ties with the Zeila, Aden, and various other trading routes south of the red sea, where he built his wealth. He gained the confidence of the Emperor of Ethiopia Menelik II and was sent as an envoy to leader of the Dervish state, Mohammed Abdullah Hassan. Abdullahi was regarded as leader of the Muslims of Harar and helped then governor of Hararghe, Haile Selassie foster good relations between Muslims and Christians within the province.[2][3]

Political career
Abdullahi Sadeq (standing far right) and family with Iyasu V of Ethiopia (sitting)

He became land administrator in Harar under governor Ras Makonnen in 1889 but was suspended a year later.[4] In 1905 he was leader of the envoy representing emperor Menelik to the United States.[5] In 1906 while visiting British India, he was subsequently arrested by British officers and detained in Zeila. Britain accused Abdullah of supplying weapons to the Dervish State.[6]

Abdullahi was assigned governorship of Ogaden by Iyasu V in 1914.[7] Iyasu used Abdullahi to interact with Dervish leader Mohammed Hassan, which would lead to an alliance between the Dervish and Ethiopian Empire. Dervish State at the time had revolted on the British and this concerned UK about the role Abdullahi was playing. British officer Charles Doughty-Wylie claimed Iyasu's appointment of Abdullahi was signs the Ethiopian government was shifting towards an anti British policy.[6] Abdullahi was also accused of being an international pan Islamic conspirator against the British empire, evidenced by his attempts to reach out to the Emir of Afghanistan. According to professor Haggai Erlich Abdullahi was one of the key figures fostering ties with the Ottoman empire to bring Ethiopia into World War I on the side of the Central Powers.[3]

Death

After the overthrow of Iyasu V, he was arrested in Harar along with several Somali leaders. Abdullahi was later released from prison, however prior to his release he was allegedly poisoned under the orders of Haile Selassie and died in 1920.[8][9]

References
  1. Hunwick, John (2003). The writings of the Muslim peoples of northeastern Africa. BRILL. p. 21. ISBN 9004109382.
  2. History of Harar (PDF). Harar tourism bureau. p. 125.
  3. Gilkes, Patrick (2018-10-08). Great War Intrigues in the Horn of Africa. Corne de l'Afrique contemporaine / Contemporary Horn of Africa. French Center for Ethiopian Studies. p. 40. ISBN 9791036523786.
  4. Metaferia, Seifu (1974). "Sixteen Letters of Ras Mäkonnen and His Sons to Ḥajj Ahmad Aboññ of Harar". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 12 (2): 179–199. JSTOR 41965873.
  5. "The Hakel of Harar". NY Times. October 24, 1905.
  6. Scramble in the Horn (PDF). Everest press. p. 448. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  7. Keller, Tait (2018). Environmental Histories of the First World War. Cambridge University Press. p. 226. ISBN 9781108429160.
  8. History of Harar (PDF). Harar tourism bureau.
  9. Barnes, Cedric (2001). "Provinces and Princes - Power and the Eastern Ethiopian Periphery C 1906-1916". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 34 (2): 114. JSTOR 41966123.
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