Historic Sites in Mandera
Fort El Wak: A Britain Versus Italy Legacy
“The spectacular raid on Fort Elwak, speeding Allied victory in Abyssinia by almost a year, by revealing the weaknesses in the Italian resistance, was one of the major achievement of the British East Africa forces. Fort El Wak was a serious blow from which the Italians, on their Kenyan front, never recovered. These infamous battles had far-reaching effects. Doubtless, the triumphant 1941 Somaliland and Abyssinia campaigns were due in part to the success at Fort Elwak”. – D. L. Van Dyke
Presently made use of as a police post in modern-day El Wak town, off the B9 Isiolo-Mandera, Fort El Wak holds old tales of the purest form of heroism. As the story tells, Fort El Wak was originally an Italian occupied frontier outpost. The British had previously conceded this region, after Italy’s cooperation in WWI, gladly, citing inhospitable climate and its relative unproductive nature. However, Fort El Wak was an indispensable fort and the British kept a close eye on things; always weary of the aggressive Italian troops especially on the wend to WWII.
Italy and Britain had significant interactions in Africa during both World War I and World War II. During World War I, Italy’s colonial possessions in Africa included Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, and Libya. Italy’s primary focus was on keeping control and expanding its influence in these territories. Britain had extensive colonies, too, including Egypt, Sudan, British Somaliland, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania), South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and others. In any case, both nations were on the same side during WW1, fighting different enemies in Africa – Italy pitted against the Ottoman Empire while the Brits came to blows with Germany.
Enter WWII, and Britain and Italy were on opposing sides. Under Mussolini, Italy aimed to expand its African empire. It sought to dominate the Horn of Africa and North Africa. Italian forces successfully invaded and occupied British Somaliland. Rather more importantly, Italian forces, with initial successes, advanced into Egypt from Libya, threatening British positions. The British Army, along with Allied forces, engaged in prolonged desert warfare against the Italian and later German (Afrika Korps) forces led by General E. Rommel. Key battles included the Siege of Tobruk and the Battle of El Alamein, which marked a turning point in favor of the Allies.
Closer to home, British and Commonwealth forces, alongside Ethiopian resistance fighters, launched a campaign against Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland). The campaign resulted in the liberation of Ethiopia and the defeat of Italian forces by 1941. A pivotal battle in Eritrea, where British and Commonwealth forces overcame Italian defenses, begun the collapse of Italian East Africa. Next, British and Ethiopian forces recaptured the Ethiopian capital, leading to the restoration of exiled Emperor Haile Selassie back to the throne.
In Kenya, the never-ending saga of small wars between the British and Italians was waged in northern Kenya, in modern day Wajir and Mandera counties. The British, in 1940, embarked on an all-out war to finally drive out the Italians, in a showdown of military strength. On September 19, 1940, a battalion of the 3rd Gold Coast Regiment seized a landing ground 11 km from Fort El Wak, before their main attack on December 15, 1940, when they captured Fort El Wak in an aptly worked night raid. Consequently, the Italians prepared for retaliatory bombing, expected at dawn and dusk on December 17, 1940. The Brits lay in wait, ready to counter.
To avert the Italian bombers from reaching Fort El Wak at dawn, the British Air Force deployed their Hurricanes (military planes) to defend the air space over Northern Kenya. Undaunted, the Italians dispatched 3 Italian bombers to attack Fort El Wak, now under Allied control. What ensued was one of the ‘Bold Africa Aviation Odysseys’ as both parties waged full-out war in the skies; which the British won. Today Fort El Wak serves as a roomy and striking police station.
Kenya is home to numerous historic sites that showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage, ancient civilizations, colonial history, and struggle for independence. These historic sites offer valuable insights into Kenya’s past and its diverse cultural heritage, making them essential destinations for visitors interested in her history.
Index of Historic Sites Around Kenya
Baringo County - Timboroa Railway Station, Bungoma County - Chetambe Fort, Kilifi County - Prince Henry the Navigator Monument, Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Pillar Tomb, Portuguese Chapel, Malindi Butwani Pier, Kwale County - Shimoni Ruins, Lamu County - Shela Mosque, Lamu Fort, German Post Office, Siyu Fort, Machakos County - Macmillan Castle Sabuk, Fort Machakos, Makueni County - Gurdwara Makindu Sahib, Patterson Ruins Tsavo, Meru County - Kaaga War Memorial, Twin Baobab Trees, Giant Meru Oak, Mombasa County - Fort Jesus, Old Port, Sanaa Gallery, Leven House, Old Law Courts, Kengeleni Bell, Old Railway Station, Mbaraki Pillar, Fort St. Joseph, Kraph Monument, Fort Makupa, Arab Rifle's Monument, Mombasa's Tusks, Ras Serani Light, Mandera County - Fort El Wak, Nandi County - Kaptumo I Kipture Forts, Samiitui Aldai Historic Stone, Nyeri County - Old Ruling Court, Taita Taveta County - Kitchwa Tembo Hill, Salaita Hill, The Sniper Tree, Maktau Railway Station, Mwashoti Hill, Mwakitau Hill, Tana River County - Tana Delta Old Fort, Tharaka Nithi County - The Mutunguruni Tree, Wajir County - Wajir Fort, Ancient Orahey Wells, Orahey Bunkers, The Old Town Wajir
Historic Ruins along the Coast of Kenya - Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River & Lamu
Mandera County, in northeastern Kenya, sharing borders with Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the east, is a place of unique geographical features, cultural diversity, and unique socio-economic activities. Its obscurity stems from the facts that it is a semi-arid block, with rampant insecurity, and limited infrastructure development. Even so, Mandera County harbours many little-known surprises!
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Explore Destinations Nearby Fort El Wak
A Guide to Mandera County
A Summa Digest of Mandera
About Mandera Way Back When
8 Destinations in Mandera County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north then west - with the aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
El Wak Ancient Wells, Fort El Wak, Marehan Sandstone, Malka Mari National Park, River Daua, Dandu Hills, Red Sea Resort, Mandera Town
Know More About Mandera County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
For the most parts plain, only exemplified by its low-lying notable rocky hills which rise gradually from 400 ms south at Elwak to 970 ms asl along the boundary with Ethiopia.
Temperatures are always high in Mandera, with a minimum of 24oCelsius in July and a maximum of 42oCelsius in February. Rainfall is scanty, unreliable and unpredictable.
