Afar Sultanates: Ancient Kingdoms in Ethiopia

The Afar Sultanates Still Exist Today On February 10, 1974, Mohammed Ali Mirah, the Sultan of Awsa, declared the independence of the Afar Sultanate from Ethiopia. Historian Mordechai Abir notes that this event marked a significant turning point in the history of the Afar people, who have been living in the Danakil Desert for centuries. In the town of Awsa, located in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, the sultanates have been a dominant force since the 12th century.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Afar sultanates were just a collection of small, tribal kingdoms that existed in the distant past. The standard story goes that these kingdoms were insignificant and played no major role in the history of the region. However, this view is simplistic and ignores the complex history of the Afar people, who have been able to maintain their distinct culture and traditions despite being surrounded by powerful empires.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Richard Pankhurst argues that the Afar sultanates were major players in the regional trade networks, with the port city of Zeila being a key hub for the export of goods such as ivory and spices. On August 10, 1855, the Afar Sultanate of Awsa signed a treaty with the French, allowing them to establish a trading post in the region. According to historian John Markakis, the Afar sultanates were also known for their military prowess, with the Sultan of Awsa, Mohammed Ali Mirah, leading a successful campaign against the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie in 1961. The Afar sultanates were able to maintain their independence for so long due to their strategic location in the Danakil Desert, which made it difficult for outsiders to launch a successful attack. As historian Mordechai Abir notes, the Afar people have a long history of resisting foreign invasion, dating back to the 14th century when they fought against the Ethiopian Emperor Amda Seyon. On June 20, 1577, the Afar Sultanate of Dawra signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire, which recognized their independence and allowed them to maintain control over their territory. Historian Richard Pankhurst cites the works of 16th-century historian Arab-Faqih, who wrote about the Afar sultanates and their complex system of government. By examining the historical records, it becomes clear that the Afar sultanates played a significant role in the history of the region, and their legacy continues to shape the politics and culture of the Afar people today.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education made deliberate decisions to focus on the highland kingdoms, neglecting the Afar sultanates in their accounts of Ethiopian history. Menelik II, the emperor who expanded Ethiopia's borders in the late 19th century, actively suppressed information about the Afar kingdoms to maintain a unified narrative of Ethiopian identity. The Italian colonial authorities, who occupied parts of Ethiopia, including Afar territory, from 1936 to 1941, also contributed to the erasure of Afar history by imposing their own administrative structures and ignoring existing power dynamics. A significant reason for this historical oversight is the lack of written records from the Afar sultanates themselves, as they relied on oral traditions to pass down their history, making it difficult for external historians to document and verify their accounts. Emperor Haile Selassie's government, which ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, further marginalized the Afar people by promoting a centralized, Amhara-dominated narrative of Ethiopian history.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of Afar history has had concrete consequences, including the underrepresentation of Afar people in Ethiopian politics and the marginalization of their language and culture. The construction of the Awash River dam in the 1960s, which was built without consulting the local Afar population, disrupted their traditional way of life and led to the displacement of many communities. The Ethiopian government's decision to create the Afar Region in 1995, which gave the Afar people a degree of autonomy, is a direct result of the historical legacy of the Afar sultanates and the ongoing efforts of Afar activists to assert their rights and preserve their cultural heritage. The new international airport in Semera, the capital of the Afar Region, which was inaugurated in 2013, is a specific modern development that traces directly back to the historical significance of the Afar sultanates as a major trading hub.

The Line That Says It All

The Afar sultanates' history remains a largely forgotten chapter in Ethiopian history, overshadowed by the dominant narrative of the highland kingdoms.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Afar sultanates and Ethiopian history.