Page "History of Somalia" Paragraph 34

In the late 19th century, after the Berlin Conference, European powers began the Scramble for Africa, which inspired the Dervish leader Mohammed Abdullah Hassan to rally support from across the Horn of Africa and begin one of the longest colonial resistance wars ever.

In several of his poems and speeches, Hassan emphasized that the British " have destroyed our religion and made our children their children " and that the Christian Ethiopians in league with the British were bent upon plundering the political and religious freedom of the Somali nation.

He soon emerged as " a champion of his country's political and religious freedom, defending it against all Christian invaders.

" Hassan issued a religious ordinance that any Somali national who did not accept the goal of unity of Somalia and would not fight under his leadership would be considered as kafir or gaal.

He soon acquired weapons from Ottoman Empire, Sudan, and other Islamic and / or Arabian countries, and appointed ministers and advisers to administer different areas or sectors of Somalia.

In addition, Hassan gave a clarion call for Somali unity and independence, in the process organizing his follower-warriors.

His Dervish movement had an essentially military character, and the Dervish state was fashioned on the model of a Salihiya brotherhood.

It was characterized by a rigid hierarchy and centralization.

Though Hassan threatened to drive the Christians into the sea, he committed the first attack by launching his first major military offensive with his 1, 500 Dervish equipped with 20 modern rifles on the British soldiers stationed in the region.