Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-06
THE SENUSSI MAHDI
DEATH OF THE LEADER OF A
POWERFUL FRATERNITY.
Semi Religious, Semi-Military Asso-
citation, With Headquarters in
Borku Oasis, Sahara.
From the London STANDARD.

The death of the Sheikh Mohammed es-
Senussi is an event of some Importance.
Senussi was the acknowledged head of a
powerful semi-religious, semi-military con-
fraternity, whose headquarters were in the
Borku oasis of the Sahara, but whose in
fiuence extended from Morocco to Mecca
and from Lake Chad to Darfur. The found
er of the sect who preached a return to the
primitive doctrines" of the Koran, was
Mohammed Sidi, father of the shelkh
whose death is now announced. Mohammed
Sidi a descendant of the prophet, through
Fatma. gained a great reputation in Fez
some seventy years ago, for sanctity. lie
performed the pilgrimage to Mecca and
afterwards founded a convent at AleXan-
dria.
In Libyan Desert.
His doctrines not finding favor with the
Sheikh ul-Islam, Mohammed Sidi retired to
the Libyan desert At first he settled near
Bengazf, in the peninsula of Barca. after
ward removing to Jerabub near the oasis
of silva. At Jerabub he gathered together
a large following and when he died, in or
about 1860. the Senussi organization was
firmly established. His son, who cherished
bitterly anti-ChriStian feelings, had largely
extended the power of the brotherhood,
which now has converts scattered all over
north Africa. During the seventies ne re-
moved further into the Sahara to the oasis
of Kufra, and entirely closed the desert TO
European travellers. He acquired a pre-
dominant influence over the ancient SUI
tanate of Wadai. which he prevented from
falling under the sway of Mohamet Ahmeo'
the Sudan mahdi. With the mahdf move
ment Senussi would have nothing to do,
and he contemptuously rejected Mohamet
Ahmed's offer to make him (SenussD one
of his khalifas, or lieutenants.
The Fashoda Crisis.
About the time Of the Fashoda crisis the
Senussi sheikh made an important move
ment southwestward into the Tripoh him
terland When. In March, 1899, the Anglo
French agreement defining our respective
spheres of action in North Central Africa
was made it was found that the Senussi
country lay entirely within the french
sphere For a time the campaign against
Rabeh kept the French fully engaged. but
last year the forces of the French and the
Senussi came into conflict in Kanem, the
kingdom in which the Senussi is reported to
have died. For many years the followers
of the Senussi had spoken of their sheikh
as FL Mahd-'the guided one, who is ex-
pected to complete the work left unfinished
by the prophet-and from reports which
have reached France of the fighting in
Kanem it would appear that the Senusists
have proclaimed holy war" 1t is, how
ever. impossible yet to estimate the
strength of the Senussi army, or whether
the brotherhood intends at this time
riously to challenge the advance of the
French.
Extending Influence.
At present, the colonial ministry in Paris
has given orders for all aggressive military
movements to cease. Judging from past ex
perience ii might be expected that the Sen
ussi would remain quiescent if left alone.
They have, however, largely extended their
influence westward during the past two
years, Kanem. which lies northeast of Lake
Chad, being the last country to fall under
their sway In 1899. when Kanem was
traversed by the FOureau-Lamy and Joil
land missions. it was free from Senussism.
Since then MOhammed es-Senussi and the
Sultan of Wadai have placed themselves
in closer relations with the Sultan of Tur-
key. and through the vilayet of Tripoli
there exists a safe and easy means of COM
munication-and of importing warTke stores.
If the new head of the brOtherhOod-who
will be either or brother of the shekh
just deceased-were to choose to begin an
active campaign he would not lack for men.
money munitions-and the Arabs of the
Sahara are among the finest fighters in the
world. Not only would the French position
on Lake Chad be threatened. but also 1t
might be found that the newly-established
British posts in BOrnu would be in danger.
Indeed, the whole of North Africa might be
involved in the conflict Nothing is known
of the personality of the Senussi leaders,
and this ignorance greatly adds to the per-
pleXity OF the situation.