Word: senussi
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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Italy's troubles in North Africa started in 1911 when, to forestall the territorial hopes of Germany and France, she declared war on Turkey and seized the province of Tripoli. The Turks were easily dispatched but not so the Senussi tribesmen of the interior. During the War, when Italy had no men to spare for Africa, Senussi tribesmen drove the Italians back to the coast and practically reconquered the territory...
...Tuaregs in Algeria, Spaniards fighting Riffi in Morocco, to remember that North Africa is populated by four races ("white" Berbers, Arab conquerors, native Jews, Negroes) which include innumerable tribes and sects. Italy's troublesome Senussites are a rambunctious Arab sect founded by Sidi Mohammed ben Ali ben Es Senussi el Khettabi el Hassani el Idrissi el Mehajiri, who was born in Algeria with an urge to militant reform. He ordered his two sons to jump off a palm tree to decide which should succeed...
Suddenly the little skirmish at Slonta became international news. Rome jubilated. Back at headquarters it was discovered that the oldster was none other than the great Senussi chieftain Omar el Muktar, bravest and most implacable of Italy's native foemen...
...Senussites are a Moslem sect founded in 1835 with the establishment of a monastery at Abu Kobeis near Mecca by the revered Sidi Mohammed ben Ali ben Es Senussi el Khettabi el Hassani el Idrissi el Mehajiri. Ever since Italy captured Tripoli (now known as Italian Libya, divided into the districts of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica) from the Turks in 1911 the Senussites have stubbornly resisted Italian penetration of the interior. One by one other Senussi chieftains have been forced to surrender, but Omar el Muktar always held...
...January Kufra, the Senussi stronghold, was captured. Thousands of tribesmen were forced to flee into Egypt. Italy thrilled to learn that the squadrons of planes that harried the fleeing Senussites mightily from the air were commanded by little King Vittorio Emanuele's own cousin, Amedeo Duke of Apulia (TIME...