British policy towards Oman under the first Wahhabi threat: 1804–14

The political maelstrom into which Oman was plunged following Sultan b Ahmad’s death in November 1804 accorded the tribal leaders in East Africa a further opportunity to dissociate themselves from the Albusaid. With Oman overrun by the Wahhabis and with no recognised Aibusaidi successor the dominant Omani group in East Africa, the Mazaria of Mombasa, did in fact try to expand their realm in the Lamu Archipelago. But before turning to the situation in Africa we will first examine the events in Arabia.