The Sayyid declared holy war at Burao in August 1899 with 5,000 men.

Evidence

In August, the news was that he was soliciting the Isaq Habar Tol Ja’lo and Habar Yunis clans for support. To forward this aim, Sheikh Muhammad succeeded in making peace between these two clans and his maternal kinsmen, the Dulbahante. And with this achieved, a great assembly was held at Burao amongst the Habar Yunis and Habar Tol Ja’lo. Here with a force estimated to number 5,000 at his command, Sheikh Muhammad formally declared a holy war against the Christian colonizers – particularly against the British and Ethiopians. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 210 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

On I September, 1899, the British Consul-General for the coast received a letter from the Sayyid accusing the British of oppressing Islam and denouncing those who obeyed or co-operated with the Administration as liars and slanderers. The letter also contained the challenge: ‘Now choose for yourselves. If you want war, we accept it; but if you want peace, pay the fine.’ — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 212 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Sheikh Muhammad declared holy war at Burao with a force of 5,000 — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 210; The Sayyid formally challenged the British to war or tribute in 1899 — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 212; A proposed livestock tax sparked a riot that killed a District Commissioner in Burao — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 288 (+1 more)

Related

• Sheikh Muhammad declared holy war at Burao with a force of 5,000 (similarity 0.95)
• The Sayyid formally challenged the British to war or tribute in 1899 (similarity 0.89)
• A disputed rifle incident in 1899 triggered the Sayyid’s open defiance of the British. (similarity 0.88)
• A proposed livestock tax sparked a riot that killed a District Commissioner in Burao (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Sheikh Muhammad declared holy war at Burao with a force of 5,000 #corroborates (0.95) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 210
• The Sayyid formally challenged the British to war or tribute in 1899 #expands (0.70) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 212
• A disputed rifle incident in 1899 triggered the Sayyid’s open defiance of the British. #expands (0.60)
• A proposed livestock tax sparked a riot that killed a District Commissioner in Burao #complicates (0.40) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 288