Somaliland Campaign Between 1900 and 1920 , the British , assisted by the Ethiopians and Italians , fought a series of campaigns in Somaliland — sometimes called the Anglo - Somali War — against the Dervishes led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan , nicknamed the " Mad Mullah " by the British , although he " was neither mad nor a mullah " . During the First World War ( 1914 – 1918 ) , Hassan received aid from the Ottomans , Germans and , for a time , from the Emperor Iyasu V of Ethiopia . The conflict ended when the British bombed the Dervish capital of Taleh in January – February 1920 . Background . In the colonial period , the Somali - inhabited territories in the Horn of Africa were collectively referred to as " Somaliland " . British Somaliland . Although nominally part of the Ottoman Empire , Yemen and the " sahil " ( including Zeila ) came progressively under the control of Muhammad Ali , ruler of Egypt , between 1821 to 1841 . After the Egyptians withdrew from the Yemeni seaboard in 1841 , " Haj " Ali Shermerki , a successful and ambitious Somali merchant , purchased from them executive rights over Zeila . Shermerki ' s governorship had an instant effect on the city , as he manoeuvred to monopolize as much of the regional trade as possible , with his sights set as far as Harar and the Ogaden . Shermerki was later succeeded as Governor of Zeila by Abu Bakr Pasha , a local Afar statesman . In 1874 – 75 , the Egyptians obtained a " firman " from the Ottomans by which they secured claims over the city . At the same time , the Egyptians received British recognition of their nominal jurisdiction as far east as Cape Guardafui . In actuality , however , Egypt had little authority over the interior and their period of rule on the coast was brief , lasting only a few years ( 1870 – 84 ) . The British Somaliland protectorate was subsequently established in the late 1880s , after the ruling Somali authorities signed a series of protection treaties granting the British access to their territories on the northwestern coast . Among the Somali signatories were the Gadabuursi ( 1884 ) , Habar Awal ( 1884 and 1886 ) , and Warsangali . When the Egyptian garrison in Harar was eventually evacuated in 1885 , Zeila became caught up in the competition between the Tadjoura - based French and the British for control of the strategic Gulf of Aden littoral . By the end of 1885 , the two powers were on the brink of armed confrontation , but opted instead to turn negotiations . They later signed a convention on 1 February 1888 defining the border between French Somaliland and British Somaliland . Italian Somaliland . The Majeerteen Sultanate within the northeastern part of the Somali territories was established in the mid - 18th century and rose to prominence the following century , under the reign of the resourceful " Boqor " ( King ) Osman Mahamuud . In late December 1888 , Yusuf Ali Kenadid , the founder and first ruler of the Sultanate of Hobyo , requested Italian protection , and a treaty to that effect was signed in February 1889 , making Hobyo an Italian protectorate . In April , Yusuf ' s uncle and rival , " Boqor " Osman , requested a protectorate from the Italians and was granted it . Both Boqor Osman and Sultan Kenadid had entered into the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist goals , with Sultan Kenadid looking to use Italy ' s support in his ongoing power struggle with Boqor Osman over the Majeerteen Sultanate , as well as in a separate conflict with the Sultan of Zanzibar over an area to the north of Warsheikh . In signing the agreements , the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories . The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in the sultanates ' respective administrations . In return for Italian arms and an annual subsidy , the Sultans conceded to a minimum of oversight and economic concessions . The Italians also agreed to dispatch a few ambassadors to promote both the sultanates ' and their own interests . The new protectorates were thereafter managed by Vincenzo Filonardi through a chartered company . An Anglo - Italian border protocol was later signed on 5 May 1894 , followed by an agreement in 1906 between Cavalier Pestalozza and General Swaine acknowledging that Baran fell under the Majeerteen Sultanate ' s administration . Campaigns . 1900 – 01 . The first offensive campaign was led by Hassan against Ethiopian encampment at Jijiga in March 1900 . The Ethiopian general Gerazmatch Bante reportedly repulsed the attack and inflicted great losses on the Dervishes , although the British vice - consul at Harar claimed the Ethiopians out of fear armed children with rifles to inflate the size of their forces . Hassan seized control of the Ogaden but did not attack Harar . Instead , he raided the non - Dervish Qadariyyah clans for their camels and arms . In 1901 , the British joined with the Ethiopians and attacked the Dervishes with a force 17 , 000 strong . Hassan was driven across the border into the Majeerteen Sultanate , which had been incorporated into the Italian protectorate . The Ethiopians failed to get a hold on the western Ogaden and the British were eventually forced to retreat , having accomplished none of their goals . In this campaign , " borders were ignored by both British and Somali . " February – June 1903 . The British became convinced of their need of Italian assistance , but memories of the disastrous Battle of Adowa inhibited any Italian fervour for action in the Horn of Africa . In 1903 , the Italian Foreign Ministry permitted the British to land forces at Hobyo ( Obbia ) . An Italian naval commander off Hobyo feared " that the expedition will end in a fiasco ; the Mad Mullah will become a myth for the British , who will never come across him , and a serious worry for . . . our sphere of influence . " The relationship between Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians ' proposal to allow British troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against Hassan ' s Dervish forces . Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians , Kenadid was exiled first to the British - controlled Aden Protectorate , and then to Italian Eritrea , as was his son Ali Yusuf , the heir apparent to his throne . In May , the British Foreign Office realised the error , and had Kenadid ' s son appointed regent , just in time to forestall an attack in Mudug by the Sultan ' s army . The expedition ended in failure soon after . Hassan defeated a British detachment near Gumburru and then another near Daratoleh . With 1 , 200 – 1 , 500 rifles , 4 , 000 ponies and some spearmen , he occupied the Nugal Valley from Halin in the British protectorate to Ilig ( or Illig ) on the Italian - held coast . The main British force near Galad ( Galadi ) under General William Manning retreated north along the line Bohotleh – Burao – Sheekh . This " old - established line " had already been breached by Hassan when he invaded the Nugal . By the end of June , the withdrawal was complete . January – May 1904 . After the failure of General Manning ' s offensive , General Charles Egerton was entrusted with a response . Following extensive preparations , he united his field force at Bacaadweeyn ( Badwein ) on 9 January 1904 and defeated Hassan at Jibdalli the next day . The British and their allies from Hobyo harassed Hassan along his retreat , and he lost many of his camels and livestock throughout February . In early March , the second phase of operations began . The Ethiopians advanced as far as Gerlogubi , but turned back in early April . The Italian Navy bombarded Ilig in the winter to no effect . On 16 April , some ships of the East Indies Station under Rear Admiral George Atkinson - Willes left Berbera to bombard Ilig in cooperation with an advance overland . The capture of Ilig was effected on 21 April , the British losing 3 men killed and 11 wounded , and the Dervishes 58 killed and 14 wounded . The naval detachment which had fought the battle remained ashore for four days , assisted by an Italian naval detachment that arrived on 22 April . Control of Ilig was finally relinquished to Ali Yusuf of Hobyo . Having defeated his forces in the field and forced his retreat , the British " offered the Mullah safe conduct into permanent exile at Mecca " ; Hassan did not reply . 1920 . Following the end of World War I , British troops once again turned their attention to the disturbances in British Somaliland . The Dervishes had previously defeated British forces at the Battle of Dul Madoba in 1913 . Four subsequent British expeditions against Hassan and his soldiers had also failed . In 1920 , British forces launched a final campaign against Hassan ' s Dervishes . Although the majority of the combat took place in January of the year , British troops had begun preparations for the assault as early as November 1919 . The British forces were led by the Royal Air Force and the ground component included the Somaliland Camel Corps . After three weeks of battle , the Dervishes were finally defeated , bringing an effective end to their 20 year resistance .