The first empire of the Western Sahel was established by the Soninke (Aka Sarakole) people circa 500 AD. It lasted until 1076, the longest of the three empires of the extreme Niger River region. The Soninke were rivals with the Berber tribes from the north. Moorish Gamente tribes had long raided the region. The Tauregs also ventured into the area and established Timbuktu around 1000AD. Timbuktu quickly grew as a commercial center and remained to focus of military campaigns between the Negroid Niger River people and the Caucasian Berber/Taureg tribes of the Sahara for centuries.

The rivalry turned devastating when the Berbers adopted Islam and launched Jihads against the pagan Soninke people of Ghana. The fanatical Almoravid Berbers defeated the main Ghana army in 1076 but were unable to consolidate their conquests due to the extreme distances from their home territory. However the defeat had splintered the Ghana government which allowed several successor ‘city states’ to establish control over local areas. A principal new power was the Susu (aka Soso).

In 1067, the Ghana army numbered 100,000 warriors. Many were mounted but the horses were considered inferior to those owned by the Berbers. It was noted with extreme pride that up to 1/5 of the foot troops were expert archers. Such a comment implies that the forces of many of their enemies would contain few archers.

The nature of the terrain suggests that formations of mass mounted and foot would be more effective than troops which fight in open order.

Medieval Empires of Africa's Sahel

Historical Background
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
Kaneum-Bornu
Minor Powers of the Region