The Port of Suakin in the Late 19th Century: Trade and Politics

Authors : Sacit Uğuz

Pages : 259-275

Doi:10.30613/curesosc.1631037

View : 52 | Download : 76

Publication Date : 2025-05-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Suakin, a strategically significant port on the Red Sea, came under the Ottoman control without direct military confrontation following Yavuz Sultan Selim’s conquest of Egypt in 1517. Strategically located, it became a key hub for the Ottoman trade and especially in the 19th century, a focal point of colonial competition. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 changed trade dynamics and increased British influence in the region. Britain has now begun to pursue a proactive policy in the region. Although the Ottoman presence in Suakin and the entire Abyssinian geography effectively ended with the British occupation of Egypt in 1882, relations with the region, which was officially considered Turkish territory, continued in some way until 1917. This study focuses on the strategic significance of the Port of Suakin, a key maritime hub that has retained its geopolitical relevance from the Ottoman period to the present. Suakin’s role as a major center of trade in the Red Sea positioned it at the intersection of global economic and political transformations, particularly during the era of European colonial expansion. The research examines the policies pursued by the Britain to assert its influence in Sudan and the broader region, with a particular focus on the instrumentalization of trade as a mechanism for political and territorial consolidation. Furthermore, the study assesses the interplay between trade, diplomacy, and military intervention in shaping Suakin’s historical trajectory, offering insights into the dynamics of colonial competition and the long-term implications of the British policies for Sudanese sovereignty.
Keywords : Osmanlı Devleti, Kızıldeniz, Sevakin Limanı, Sudan, İngiltere

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