Picture: United Nations Commission to Eritrea, 1950. The Commissioner listens to representatives of the Muslim League of Massawa

United Nations Commission to Eritrea, 1950. The Commissioner listens to representatives of the Muslim League of Massawa

 In 1949 a group of Muslim merchants led by Omer Kadi who were opposed to Ibrahim Sultan split from the main Muslim League and formed the Muslim League of Massawa which sought a compromise between unconditional union and Independence and favoured federation. Kadi published a newspaper called 'L'Unita'. When it became clear that Ethiopia was dismantling the Federation, he led a series of legal challenges aginst it. He presented a petition to the United Nations. In Cairo, Ethiopian officilals convinced him that he better complain to the emperor about this and the emperor did not know about this. When he returned , he was imprisoned sentenced for 10 years. He was released in 1969 and appointed Mayor of Massawa: from the Historical Dictionary of Eritrea