- Mahmadu Lamine
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al-Hajj Mahmadu Lamine (d. December 9, 1887) was a nineteenth-century Senegalese marabout who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the French colonial government.
After the 1864 death of Umar Tall, Lamine attempted to claim succession to Umar's Toucouleur Empire, but was instead imprisoned in Ségou by Umar's son Ahmadu.
Released not long after, Lamine traveled to Upper Senegal and began to gather followers using the prestige gained from his hajj and his subsequent role in the Toucouleur jihad. In February 1866, Lamine led his forces in armed rebellion against the French. By the end of the month, they had taken Bondu and Guoy, and vastly outnumbered the local French garrison at Medina Fort.
When French reinforcements to Kayes were delayed, Lamine began a siege of Fort Bakel. However, the siege was soon broken, and Lamine's forces retreated toward the Gambian border, attacking villages in their path. Lt. Col. Joseph Galliéni, the new French military commander for the region, sent more forces in pursuit. On Christmas Day, 1886, the French entered Lamine's capital at Diana, though Lamine himself escaped.
Following this defeat, Lamine took several months to regroup, launching his next attack at the Ouli province in July 1887. Galliéni again sent his troops in pursuit, seizing Lamine's stronghold at Toubakouta on December 8, 1887. This time, Lamine was captured, and was executed by French forces on the following day.
External links
Categories:- 1887 deaths
- French West Africa
- Senegalese Muslims
- Senegalese religious leaders
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