Olol Diinle
Encyclopedia
Sultan Olol Diinle was the last sultan who ruled at Kelafo
(Qalaafe in Somali) as a sultan of the Ajuran (or Ajuuraan) Somali clan
lineage to rule an independent kingdom.
in the Ogaden
region of Ethiopia
centered at Kelafo. Following the peace agreements between Ethiopia and Italy in 1896, Ethiopia was granted the Ogaden
.
The Gareen empire had collapsed during the 16th century, and a slow decline had set in over the centuries, leading to the eventual demise of the Ajuran state during the 18th century and the end of strong central leadership amongst the Ajuran. Ajuran tribes lived and still live throughout Somali inhabited lands in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
According to some Ajuran traditions, Olol Diinle was related directly to the Gareen Dynasty, Olol Diinle carved a new Ajuran Sultanate out of the upper reaches of the Wadi Shabelle, centered at Kelafo, the traditional capital at the turn of the 20th century.
Olol Diinle and his sultanate became embroiled in the politics of the day, aligning himself with the Italian colonial authorities. In 1915, Sultan Olol Diinle of Kelafo, Sultan Ali Yusuf Keenadid of Hobyo, and the Italian Somaliland government attempted to dislodge the Darwiish forces of Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
, who had conquered territory near Beledweyne
in their rapid advance southwards.
and Kelafo. This tiny patch of land along the Shabelle River was strategically critical however, as any invasion of Ethiopia from central or southern Somaliland would have to go through this area. Sultan Orfa was placed in control of Kelafo, but Olol Diinle's attacks against Ethiopian forces were so serious that Ethiopian government intervention was required to avoid famine along the Shabelle.
In recognition of Italy's alliance with Olol Diinle, he was dubbed the "Sultan of Sciavelli (Shabelle)" in the early 1930s. Olol Diinle was only too happy to receive Italian aid against Ethiopia, as his father remained in an Ethiopian prison and the Ethiopian flag flew above his people's ancestral capital of Kelafo. Ethiopia took to supporting Omar Samatar's raids into Italian Somaliland, the former general of the Sultanate of Hobyo
seeking a similar goal as that of Olol Diinle in that he sought to reinstate Majerteen clan rule in Hobyo
.
In 1931, the Dejazmach ("Commander of the Gate") of Harar
, Gebremariam, to whom the Ogaden had been assigned, attacked and destroyed Olol Diinle's fortress at Mustahil and menaced the Italian Rezidenza at Beledweyne
, though Gebremariam avoided armed confrontation and withdrew.
To prevent further raids by Olol Diinle, a large force under Balambaras ("Commander of the Fortress") Afawarq Walda Samayat
was deployed in Kelafo from Jigjiga in 1933, as Olol Diinle's forces of roughly a thousand Dubat
cavalry had grown to pose a serious threat to Ethiopian control of the Shabelle River area.
During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
, Olol Diinle's forces along with the Italians
under then-Colonel
Luigi Frusci
invaded Ethiopia from Hiraan, and attacked the forces of Dejazmach Beine Merid
(also spelled Beyene Merid) at Goba
http://www.tecolahagos.com/origin_tribal_partIII.htm.
Kelafo
Kelafo is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Gode Zone of the Somali Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation of 233 meters above sea level....
(Qalaafe in Somali) as a sultan of the Ajuran (or Ajuuraan) Somali clan
Somali clan
The demographics of Somalia describes the condition and overview of Somalia's inhabitants. Demographic topics include basic education, health and population statistics, as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.-Somalis:...
lineage to rule an independent kingdom.
Historical Context
The Ajuran clan, under the Gareen Dynasty, had once ruled a powerful ImamateImamate
The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.-Theological usage:...
in the Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
region of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
centered at Kelafo. Following the peace agreements between Ethiopia and Italy in 1896, Ethiopia was granted the Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
.
The Gareen empire had collapsed during the 16th century, and a slow decline had set in over the centuries, leading to the eventual demise of the Ajuran state during the 18th century and the end of strong central leadership amongst the Ajuran. Ajuran tribes lived and still live throughout Somali inhabited lands in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
According to some Ajuran traditions, Olol Diinle was related directly to the Gareen Dynasty, Olol Diinle carved a new Ajuran Sultanate out of the upper reaches of the Wadi Shabelle, centered at Kelafo, the traditional capital at the turn of the 20th century.
Olol Diinle and his sultanate became embroiled in the politics of the day, aligning himself with the Italian colonial authorities. In 1915, Sultan Olol Diinle of Kelafo, Sultan Ali Yusuf Keenadid of Hobyo, and the Italian Somaliland government attempted to dislodge the Darwiish forces of Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
Sayyīd Muhammad `Abd Allāh al-Hasan was a Somali religious and patriotic leader...
, who had conquered territory near Beledweyne
Beledweyne
Beledweyne is a city in central Somalia. It is the capital of the Hiraan province, and is located in the central valley of the Shebelle river near the Ogaden, some 206 miles north of Mogadishu, the nation's capital. The Shebelle river divides the town into east and west...
in their rapid advance southwards.
Conflict with Ethiopia
The expansion of Ethiopian control deep into the Ogaden during the 1920s led to the capture of Kelafo, leaving Olol Diinle with a very small patch of territory on the Ethiopian side of the border between FerferFerfer
Ferfer is a town in southeastern Ethiopia. Located in the Gode Zone of the Somali Region close to the border with Somalia, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 177 meters above sea level....
and Kelafo. This tiny patch of land along the Shabelle River was strategically critical however, as any invasion of Ethiopia from central or southern Somaliland would have to go through this area. Sultan Orfa was placed in control of Kelafo, but Olol Diinle's attacks against Ethiopian forces were so serious that Ethiopian government intervention was required to avoid famine along the Shabelle.
In recognition of Italy's alliance with Olol Diinle, he was dubbed the "Sultan of Sciavelli (Shabelle)" in the early 1930s. Olol Diinle was only too happy to receive Italian aid against Ethiopia, as his father remained in an Ethiopian prison and the Ethiopian flag flew above his people's ancestral capital of Kelafo. Ethiopia took to supporting Omar Samatar's raids into Italian Somaliland, the former general of the Sultanate of Hobyo
Sultanate of Hobyo
The Sultanate of Hobyo was a 19th century Somali ruling house in present-day northern Somalia. It was carved out of the former Majeerteen Sultanate by Yusuf Ali Kenadid, cousin of the Majeerteen Sultanate's ruler, Boqor Osman Mahamuud....
seeking a similar goal as that of Olol Diinle in that he sought to reinstate Majerteen clan rule in Hobyo
Hobyo
Hobyo is an ancient harbor city in the Mudug region of Somalia. Hobyo literally means "here, water", and the plentiful fresh water to be had from the wells in and around the town has been the driving force behind Hobyo's ancient status as a favorite port-of-call for sailors.-Establishment:Hobyo's...
.
In 1931, the Dejazmach ("Commander of the Gate") of Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
, Gebremariam, to whom the Ogaden had been assigned, attacked and destroyed Olol Diinle's fortress at Mustahil and menaced the Italian Rezidenza at Beledweyne
Beledweyne
Beledweyne is a city in central Somalia. It is the capital of the Hiraan province, and is located in the central valley of the Shebelle river near the Ogaden, some 206 miles north of Mogadishu, the nation's capital. The Shebelle river divides the town into east and west...
, though Gebremariam avoided armed confrontation and withdrew.
To prevent further raids by Olol Diinle, a large force under Balambaras ("Commander of the Fortress") Afawarq Walda Samayat
Afawarq Walda Samayat
Afawarq Walda Samayat, or Afework Woldesemait, was an Ethiopian administrator, and commander.-Biography:In 1935, at the outbreak of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Grazmach and Balambaras Afawarq Walda Samayat was the acting Shum of Jijiga...
was deployed in Kelafo from Jigjiga in 1933, as Olol Diinle's forces of roughly a thousand Dubat
Dubats
Dubats was the designation given to armed irregular bands employed by the Italian Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali in Italian Somaliland from 1924 to 1941...
cavalry had grown to pose a serious threat to Ethiopian control of the Shabelle River area.
During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
, Olol Diinle's forces along with the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
under then-Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Luigi Frusci
Luigi Frusci
Luigi Frusci was an officer in the Italian Royal Army during World War II.Frusci fought on the southern front for General Rodolfo Graziani during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War...
invaded Ethiopia from Hiraan, and attacked the forces of Dejazmach Beine Merid
Beyene Merid
Beyene Merid, Beine Merid, was an Ethiopian army commander, a patriot, and the son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I.-Bibliography:...
(also spelled Beyene Merid) at Goba
Goba
Goba is a town in south-central Ethiopia. Located in the Bale Zone of the Oromia Region approximately 446 km southeast of Addis Ababa, this city has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2,743 meters above sea level...
http://www.tecolahagos.com/origin_tribal_partIII.htm.