 Sayyid Ahmed ash-Sharif es-Senussi Ahmed Sharif es Senussi (Arabic: أحمد الشريف السنوسي ) Sayyid Ahmed ash Sharif ibn Mohammed ash Sharif ibn Mohammed ibn Ali es Senussi (1873, Al-Jaghbub – 10 March 1933, Medina), the supreme leader of the Senussi order (1902-1933), although his leadership between the years (1917-1933) could be considered nominal. [edit] Early life - Ahmed ash Sharif was the grandson of Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi, founder of the Senussi religious order in Cyrenaica in the middle of nineteenth century. On 1895 Ahmed ash Sharif accompanied his father, Mohammed ash Sharif, and his uncle Mohammed el Mahdi, then leader of the Senussi order, on there trip from Al-Jaghbub to Kufra, and they remained there until 1899. While they were there, Ahmed’s father died on 1896.[1]
- On 1899 Mohammed el Mahdi and Ahmed ash Sharif moved from Kufra to Zawiat Guru, in Chad, then to Bergo, aiming to check the French advance in Chad.[2]
[edit] Struggle against the French - On 1900, the French forces approached to Kanem, Mohammed el Mahdi assigned his nephew Ahmed to lead the struggle. Between those who fought with him Mohammed el Barrani (probably after whom the town Sidi Barrani was named), and Omar Mukhtar, the future resistance leader in Libya.[3]
- On June 1, 1902, Mohammed el Mahdi died. Because his son Mohammed Idris was only 12 years old, he named, before his death, his nephew Ahmed ash Sharif to be his successor.[4]
- Ahmed ash Sharif continued the struggle against the French in Chad which resulted at last into a failure as the French forces took Wadai on 1909..[5]
[edit] Struggle against the Italians - On October 1911 the Italians invaded Libya, so Ahmed ash Sharif suspended the struggle against the French in Chad, and concentrated his efforts against the Italians. The Senussi movement had no big difficulty in unifying the capabilities of the tribes of Cyrenaica against the Italians.
- The first major battle was attended by Ahmed ash Sharif was Sidi Kraiyem near Derna. The battle itself was a setback to the Italian forces.[6]
- On 1915, after four years of hostilities, the Italian forces in Cyrenaica were almost confined to some separated points on the coast.
[edit] War with the British in Egypt - With the outbreak of World War I, the Ottoman Empire, former rulers of Libya, was with the Central Powers. Britain was with the Allies. Italy joined the Allies on May 1915.
- On February 1915, the Turks attacked the Suez Canal. At First, Ahmed ash Sharif, already a deputy for the Ottoman Caliph in North Africa, has not involved in the conflict against the British. But on November 1915, encouraged by the Turks, the Senussi horsemen under him invaded Egypt and took Sollum. the British forces withdrew to Mersa Matruh.[7]
- The Senussis had a great influence on the peoples of many Egyptian oases like Siwa , Kharga , and Dakhla , so the British had to deal with Senussi threat seriously.[8]
- On February 1916, the British counterattacked and recaptured Unjela, between Mersa Matruh and Sidi Barrani, and on March 14 they took Sollum.[9]
- Weakened by this defeat, Ahmed ash Sharif conceded the leadership of the Senussi order to his 27-year old cousin Mohammed Idris(later King Idris I of Libya), who run the negotiations with the British.[10]
- ^ Shukri, “As Senussiya..." pp.136,157
- ^ Ibid,pp.150-151
- ^ Ibid,p.152
- ^ Ibid,p.156
- ^ Ibid,p.158
- ^ Ibid,p.228 & Tillisi "Mu'jam...", p.322
- ^ "War Monthly",p.17
- ^ Ibid,p.17
- ^ Ibid,pp.19-20
- ^ Ibid,p.21
- ^ Houwaidi,"Al Haraka..."pp.174-179
[edit] References - Kalifa Tillisi, “Mu’jam Ma’arik Al Jihad fi Libia1911-1931”, Dar Ath Thaqafa, Beirut, Lebanon, 1973.
- Mohammed Fouad Shukri, “As Senussiya Deen wa Daula”, Markaz ad Dirasat al Libiya, Oxford, 2005.
- War Monthly Magazine, "The Sanussi 1915-17", unknown issue.
- Mustafa Ali Houwaidi, “Al Haraka al Wataniya fi Shark Libia Khilal al Harb al Alamiya al Oula”, Markaz Jihad al Libiyeen Did al Ghazu al Itali, Tripoli, 1988.
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