The kingdom of Ouaddaï which can still be written Wadaï is a former powerful empire adjoining Kanem-Bornou. It was located in the area that corresponds to the current eastern part of the Republic of Chad. The territory still exists today but as a simple traditional chiefdom administered by the modern government of Chad.
Birth of the Kingdom
We trace the foundation of this kingdom to the 14th century. According to historians, it was the Toundjours ethnic group who founded this kingdom. The first ruler of Ouaddaï, Prince Abd al-Karim, was from this ethnic group. He was also the descendant of the uncle of the Prophet Al-Abbas Ibn Abd Al-Muttalib.
The first capital was Ouara. Then, around the 18th century, it was moved to Abéché. The Sultan of that time, Mahamat Chérif, fled from Ouara because of the neighborhood of the powerful Kodoi tribe which was hostile to him. He masked his escape by telling the people that the former royal castle, haunted by evil spirits, had become uninhabitable. Abéché was chosen on the proposal of Imam Al Djazouli as the new capital.
Apogee of the kingdom of Ouaddaï
For many years, the kingdom was the seat of mighty power, a thriving commercial center and a vibrant intellectual space. It was in 1804, during the reign of Muhammad Saboun, that the kingdom began to expand and extend its power. Enjoying a strategic position and straddling the trans-Saharan trade routes. Sultan Saboun discovers a new trade route to the north. He created royal caravans to take advantage of this. He minted his own currency and imported firearms and military advisers from North Africa.
Sultan Chérif, for his part, led military expeditions and succeeded in weakening Kanem and imposing the hegemony of Ouaddaï there. In addition to Kanem, he subjugated several other kingdoms. In particular, the Baguirmi. This military power allowed the kingdom to capture slaves and increase its trade with North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, Ouaddaï was a feared and respected kingdom.
Decline of the kingdom
As in many other kingdoms in Africa, the decline came from the west. In Ouaddaï, the French forces arrived from the west. From Fort Lamy, they went north and east. The resistance was fierce at first. To cover the 800 km (from Fort Lamy to Abéché), the colonial troops took 9 years of battle. The capital of Ouaddaï was overcome on Wednesday, June 2, 1909.
Subsequently, France began to designate the sovereigns of the kingdom. When one of them did not fulfill the tasks assigned, he was simply replaced. The kingdom was finally abolished in 1912. Today, Ouaddaï is one of the 23 regions of Chad, but its capital remains Abéché.
