Umar II of Bornu

Umar II was briefly mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-to-late 15th century, ruling approximately 1466–1467. Umar ruled during the "Era of [Instability (Kanem–Bornu)|Era of Instability]", a chaotic period of internal and external conflict in the empire.

Life

Umar was a son of mai Abdullah III Dakumuni. Umar came to power as mai in the mid-to-late 15th century in the aftermath of the defeat and deposition of Uthman IV. For about a century, the empire had been plagued by civil wars between the Idrisid and Dawudid branches of the imperial family. These wars ended when the Idrisid prince Ali Gaji defeated Uthman, the last Dawudid ruler, and drove the remaining Dawudids and their supporters from the empire. Ali Gaji then acted as a kingmaker, to the benefit of Umar.
Umar was a despotic ruler who ruled without consultation with the nobility, according to the girgam, "his chiefs did not assemble in council." Umar spent his entire reign, either a single year or three years, in competition with Muhammad V, a more powerful and successful rival claimant. Over the course of a year, Muhammad gained the upper hand in the conflict and eventually deposed Umar. The site of Umar's death is recorded as Ghomtalú.