Ottoman Zeila

Ottoman Zeila was a region centered around Zeila that was under intermittent Ottoman control between the 16th and 19th centuries, after the collapse of the Adal Sultanate.

After the rise of Sharmake Ali Saleh,The Ottomans slowly lost control of the cities of Zeila and Berbera,due to the popularity of sharmake’s rule.

History
From 1840 until the 1855, the governor of Zeila was Haji Shirmarke. Although prior to him, the governorship was hereditary and appointed to Sayyids, his ascent was due to the influence and wealth he acquired from his career as a captain of a training dhow. He obtained the position also partly due to gratitude from Great Britain for protecting the crew of the Mary Ann, a brig that was attacked off Berbera in 1825.