How did the Fulani gain control of Fouta Djallon?

The Fulani (also known as Fulbe) gained control of the Fouta Djallon region in the late 1720s by organizing a jihad (Muslim holy war) against the local Dialonke inhabitants. This movement was led by Karamoko Alfa and Ibrahima Sori, resulting in the establishment of a Muslim theocratic state.12

Prior to this political consolidation, large numbers of Fulani had settled in the region by the 15th century, initially living as pastoralists who exchanged produce for goods in local towns. By the early 18th century, these Fulani began to form alliances with local Muslim Mande traders, which provided the foundation for the subsequent rise of the theocracy. Following the success of the jihad, the region was organized as a distinct political entity, with the town of Timbo serving as the seat of the Fulani emirs until the French occupation in 1896.321