THE KINGDOM OF EGYPT
AL-MAMLAKAH AL-MISRIYYAH
AHMAD ORABI PASHA
Berbera, Egyptian Punt
17 August 1870
While total and utter pacification of the hinterlands and the full subjugation of the native Somali populace was not yet at hand, Somaliland, lawfully and practically, belonged in its entirety to the nascent Kingdom. The string of pearls that made up its coastal city states had been brought to their knees, vanquished or surrendered. Resistance in the hills and the deserts remained, but resistance was futile at best.
But it mattered little; today was a day of celebration.
Under a sweltering sun, the local princes and potentates of the Warsangali Sultanate sat in a row, attended to by ebon slaves holding aloft silken parasols to keep the heat at bay. Chilled tea was passed around, much obliged, and all made an effort to look their best. Flanking them were their bodyguards bedecked in rich panoply and pomp, though it had done little to defend the sovereignty of their nation.
One by one they took their place facing the assembled audience of the townspeople, relinquishing all authority, formal or informal, to the Citadel, surrendering all their powers and their right to rule over their respective peoples. One by one they gave away their metaphorical crowns, slinking away into the obscurity of history.
After a lengthy ceremony, the Somalian flag was lowered, and the Egyptian took its place with pride.
***
Al-Waqa'i`a al-Masriya
Thursday, 15 September 1870
MARONITE REGIMENT LEAVES FOR ROME
ALEXANDRIA — In a fit of utmost joy and festivity, the shores of the Nile bade farewell to 12,000 of its finest Catholic soldiers, who set sail from our lands for the Eternal City of Rome. As a gesture of goodwill, and in response to increasing Italian militarism and irredentism, the Kingdom graciously pledged these troops to the service of the Leonine City to be commanded to the defense of the Papal States.
Authorities have declined to comment as to what it would bode for future Italo-Egyptian relations.
BEDOUIN INCURSION KILLS 23
ABU KAMAL — Bedouins of the Banu Hadid partook in a raid of the Egyptian border town of Abu Kamal on the banks of the Euphrates, killing 23 and wounding 54. The estimated loss of property continues to be calculated.
Hailing from the deserts of Ottoman Iraq, the Turk-aligned Banu Hadid had already conducted raids on unsuspecting caravans and pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem throughout the past few weeks, but such had become the norm under the misguidance and mismanagement of the Sublime Porte.
However, an outright act of war, as some have called it, becomes a staggering blow to the prestige of the fledgeling Kingdom. What more from trusted friends who have been bound in a strict non-aggression pact with the Egyptian government. This should come as no surprise from the Porte that had surrendered Egypt to the Western Powers for its own interests.
Witness France laid low. The Sphinx does not take kindly to betrayal.