Khedivate's Somali Coast

Khedivate's Somali Coast was a short-lived dominion of the Khedivate of Egypt over a few ports of the northern Somali coast. It came about when in 1874 Isma'il Pasha ordered the dispatch of two warships and three Khedival ships of the line towards the northern Somali coast.

Khedivate's Somali Coast ساحل الصومال الخديوي‎ (Arabic) Sāḥil aṣ-Ṣūmāl al-Khudaywī خِدِيوِي مِصِر سُومَال سَاحِلِ (Ottoman Turkish) Hidiv-i Mısır Somali Sahili
1874–1884
Flag Coat of arms
Egypt and its expansion in the 19th century.
Status	Province of the Khedivate of Egypt
Capital	Berbera
Common languages	Somali Arabic Ottoman Turkish
History
• Egyptian Invasion of Harar	1874
• Egyptian recall	1884
Preceded by Succeeded by Isaaq Sultanate British Somaliland Obock Territory Dervish movement (Somali)
Today part of	Djibouti Somalia (de jure) ∟ Somaliland (de facto)

History

See also: Egyptian Invasion of Harar and Isaaq Sultanate

In 1870, the Egyptians occupied Hargeisa after failing to take over Aussa.^[1] They continued on to invade Berbera, Zeila, Sagallo, and Bulhar.^[2][3] In 1883 the Egyptians who were being pressured by the British decided to evacuate the Somali, and Oromo cities. During the Egyptian rule the Somalis controlled the Zeila-Harar trade route, and the Oromos shared the Berbera-Harar trade route.^[4] British officer Hunters carried a number of surveys in the Somali coast. He described the Habr Awal as a friendly people who lived between Harar, and Berbera, and that they supported the Egyptian capture of many towns. In 1884 the Egyptians, and Habr Awal burnt down a number of Bursuuk villages, in retaliation the Bursuuk attacked Habr Awal caravans on their way to Berbera.^[5] During the withdrawal period officer Hunters was more concerned on Berbera as rumour spread about the Mahdiyya of Sudan. He worried about Berbera more than Harar, because the Habr Awal Somalis had murdered the Governor of Berbera Abd- Al Rahman Bey. They did this because Abd Al Rahman had murdered a Somali in an attempt to rob a caravan. He also feared the Issa Somali would invade Berbera so he ordered a British warship be anchored at Berbera so the British could detect any Somali movement in the area.^[6]

Hunter also writes that the Emir of Zeila, Abu Bakr Pasha was possibly planning an invasion of Berbera. Hinter describes Abu Bakr as a Afar businessmen, and Emir who held great influence over the Afar, and Somalis. He also describes him as a slave master, and that he controlled slave trade in the Red Sea. Hunter describes the Egyptian Governor of Berbera as a man who was ready to take any command, but like all his friends was thuggish, and rude.^[7] In 1884 the British signed a deal with the Habr Awal which allowed British presence in Berbera for a while.^[8] Due to an internal rebellion in the Egyptian Khedivate's mainland territories, it was forced to abandon its Somali territories in 1884, and Britain began to take over these ports.^[9][10]

Economy

They helped rebuild a dying economy, and established Berbera as the capital of the Khedive in east Africa. Although they did not control northern Somali littoral for long they did build lighthouses, piers, improved coastal ports and promoted Islam.^[8]

Controversies which existed during Egyptian administration included the payment of port duties by the Khedivate to the Ottomans, the inspection of the status of slave trade, and the demarcation of territory with the French Somali Coast as well as the Abyssinians towards the west.^[11]

See also

• Zeila
• Berbera
• Habesh Eyalet