Ahmed Sharif es Senussi

Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi (Arabic: أحمد الشريف السنوسي ‎‎) (1873, Jaghbub, Libya – 10 March 1933, Medina, Saudi Arabia) was the supreme leader of the Senussi order (1902–1933), although his leadership between the years (1917–1933) could be considered nominal. His daughter, Fatimah el-Sharif was the Queen consort of King Idris I of Libya (both first cousins).

Ahmed Sharif was the grandson of Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi, who founded the Senussi religious order in Cyrenaica in the middle of nineteenth century. In 1895, as-Senussi accompanied his father, Mohammed ash Sharif, and his uncle Mohammed el Mahdi, then leader of the Senussi order, on their trip from Jaghbub to Kufra, where they remained until 1899, and where Ahmed’s father died in 1896.

In 1899 Mohammed el Mahdi and as-Senussi moved from Kufra to Zawiat Guru, in Chad, then to Bergo, aiming to check the French advance in Chad.

On 1900, the French forces approached to Kanem, Mohammed el Mahdi assigned his nephew Ahmed to lead the struggle. Between those who fought with Mohammed el Barrani (Ruler of Zawiyat Ber Alali in Kanem), and Omar Al-Mukhtar, the future resistance leader in Libya.

On 1 June 1902, Mohammed el Mahdi died. Because his son Mohammed Idris was only 12 years old, he named, before his death, his nephew Ahmed Sharif to be his successor. Ahmed ash Sharif continued the struggle against the French in Chad which resulted at last into a failure as the French forces took Wadai on 1909.

In October 1911 the Italians invaded Libya, so as-Senussi suspended the struggle against the French in Chad, and concentrated his efforts against the Italians. The Senussi movement had no big difficulty in unifying the capabilities of the tribes of Cyrenaica against the Italians.

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Wikipedia