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As a result of this manifest weakening of the Wardei they were attacked on
all fronts and it is no surprise that they could not defend themselves but had to flee for their
lives. According to Turnbull , 'the main conflict was in the east; and the actions fought at
Afmadu, on the Deshek Wama, and at EI Lein are still- spoken of by the tribe' .The
Ogaden were at this point led by the grand old man of the Abd Wak, Abdi Ibrahim.P1 , the
Sultan, while there were a number of invasion commanders under him: Abdi Ibrahim
was noted for his bravery and skill in war strategy which eventually led to the Ogaden
dominance in the Juba region. His remarkable leadership qualities are still remembered to this
day by the Ogaden. Notable among his commanders were Magan Yussuf, the Sultan of the
Mohamed Zubeir Ogaden, and Hassan Bejan of the Abdalla/Ogaden
Having displaced the Wardei from the Juba region the Ogaden were no content to settle
down but continued their southward expansion since the loot from the Wardei was an
appetizing reason to continue their raids. The Ogaden migration towards the Tana in the 1860s and 1870s, was one of struggle to wrest
control of the land from the Wardei. The Ogaden were firmly established along the banks
of the Tana River by the 1870' s, having virtually conquered and subordinated the..Galla to
Somali domination.
Many Somalis, especially the Abdwak Ogaden, forcefully married Wardei women in the
process of the latter 's displacement from Juba region and the North Eastern part of Kenya.
Once married to Somali men, Wardei women gained their freedom and were no longer
treated with contempt.
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