Aussa Sultanate
AWSA ( German and statements ) has since the 18th century, a Muslim sultanate of the Afar people and a historical region of Ethiopia. The Sultans have the title Amóyta (Arabic: sultan ).
Geography
The core area is located in the Danakil Depression in northeastern Ethiopia. In the north of the Sultanate handed partly to the coast, where several smaller Afar States ( Bidhu, Rahayta, Tagurra ) existed, which were partly a function of AWSA. In the west it bordered upon the Abyssinian highlands, to the east by Somali territories. In the southeast, the Emirate of Harar was (previously made this with AWSA together the Muslim empire of Adal ).
It is in a hot lowlands; its population consists almost exclusively of Afar nomads; some do farming in the AWSA - Lakes area. The country is drained by the coming of Shewa Awash River, which was next to the significant salt trade with bars of salt ( Amole ), which were used as means of payment, the basis of the economy of the Sultanate.
AWSA enjoys an autonomous status within Ethiopia. By 2011, reigned Sultan Ali Murach Hanfari.
History
The Sultanate AWSA was not subjected to due to the harsh living conditions in the hot lowlands to the 20th century. AWSA has signed several international treaties with Italy and France, on the basis of the Italian " Colonia di Assab " (origin of the later colony of Eritrea Eritrean in Eritrea) and the French colony of Obock ( Côte française des Somalis later et dépendances, from which finally the State Djibouti has emerged ).
At the battle of Arraddo the border with Wollo in January 1896 Sultan Mahammad " Illalta ", son of Hanfadhe, a defeat against Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia suffered. Since the Ethiopian troops were not able to occupy the country, only a mutual non-aggression pact was made. The Sultan received from the Emperor of Ethiopia, an Ethiopian military title of nobility, so the claim of the emperor to exercise suzerainty over AWSA was reaffirmed. By the early 20th century, this claim was but essentially only "on paper ". This changed with the death of the Sultan, as the successor entered into closer relations with the royal house of Ethiopia. Internal kept the sultans until 1944 but a complete autonomy. This did not change the occupation of the region by Italy and the establishment of Italian East Africa ( Africa Orientale Italiana ) nothing. AWSA formally recognized on Italy's supremacy, the AWSA -Sultan ruled internally but independent. He supplied the Italian army with meat, which he also helped that the troops of Mussolini could subject the Ethiopian highlands in the Italian -Ethiopian war. After Rückerorberung by Haile Selassie of Abyssinia and with him allied British forces in 1941, the Ethiopian army had yet to 1944 time before they invaded AWSA. The Sultan was arrested, and his cousin Ali Mirah used in its place. This, from 1975 to 1991 in exile, bore the title of Sultan until his death in 2011.
The 1916 deposed ruler of Ethiopia, Lij Iyasu V., who in 1916 married the descendant of a leading Afar family, found asylum to the Sultan of AWSA. Since the new Ethiopian coup government of Ras Teferi (later Haile Selassie ) had no access to AWSA, the deposed ruler could only be arrested when in 1921 went to the highlands.