Second Italo-Senussi War

The Second Italo-Senussi War was a conflict in the Italian colonies of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania (collectively known as Italian North Africa) that lasted from 1924 to 1928. It was between Italian military forces and indigenous rebels led primarily by the Senussi Order.
The war began in 1924 with the Italians breaking their previous treaties and agreements that de facto recognized the independence of Senussi-ruled Cyrenaica. This was preceded by a few skirmishes in 1922 and 1923 between Italian and Senussi forces as well as a number of raids by Senussi rebels. The Italian command sought to pacify the interior and link the two colonies together. These ambitious expansion plans pleased many nationalists and fascists despite their suppression by the Italian government.
The war began with some Italian gains in both colonies, but ended in 1928 with a military failure, with only a few of the major goals being met. This mostly owed to instability in mainland Italy due to the Decennio Rosso, which hampered logistics, weapons production and the loyalty of Italian forces, as well as a reluctance by the Italian government to commit significant resources to the war. The war was unpopular with much of the Italian populace and protests against it contributed to the events of the Decennio Rosso. The failure of the campaign led to the brief dismissal of governor and prominent commander Pietro Badoglio by King Vittorio Emanuele III in 1927, being reinstated with the ascension of the Governo Militare in 1928.
Tens of thousands of civilians and Senussi fighters were killed during the conflict. Italian forces often violated the international laws of war by using chemical weapons, executing prisoners of war, establishing concentration camps and executing civilians. Several hundred Italian troops were killed during the war, and thousands of guns and other equipment were captured by the Senussi during the pivotal Battle of Sirte.
The Senussi movement grew in popularity among the indigenous populace as a result of the conflict despite sustaining heavy casualties. They continue to wage a low level insurgency against Italian forces as of 1932, and de facto control most of the interior of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania as well as all of Fezzan. Italy has not officially re-recognized Senussi rule in Cyrenaica.
Category:Conflicts