Soninke–Marabout Wars

The Soninke-Marabout Wars were a series of religious conflicts that spanned approximately fifty years in West Africa, primarily in the Senegambia region. These wars involved various kingdoms and were influenced by the rise and fall of Muslim leaders who sought to unify the region.1

While one prominent Muslim leader, Maba, emerged with the potential to unite the kingdoms, his death in 1864 significantly altered the conflict's trajectory. By 1880, the religious fervor had largely subsided, and the conflicts continued, driven by war chiefs like Musa Mollah, Fodi Silla, and Fodi Kabba. The Soninke people, who founded the ancient empire of Ghana, are also mentioned in the context of this region's history.12