Which ruler led the Songhai Empire after Sunni Ali?

• A. Sonni Ali
• B. Mansa Musa
• C. Askia Mohammed
• D. Sunjata Keita

Answer: (C)

Understanding how leadership changes shape an empire helps explain why this ruler fits after Sunni Ali. Sunni Ali built the Songhai Empire through conquest along the Niger River, but after his death the throne passed to his heir for a brief time. The figure who truly redirected Songhai’s course was Muhammad Askia, known as Askia Mohammed I, who seized power in 1493 and established the Askia Dynasty. He centralized administration, expanded the empire’s reach over major trade centers like Gao, Timbuktu, and Jenne, and promoted Islam as the state faith. This combination of strong governance and religious-legal reforms strengthened Songhai and extended its influence, making Askia Mohammed the leader who guided the empire after Sunni Ali. For context, Sunjata Keita and Mansa Musa were rulers of the Mali Empire, not Songhai, and Sonni Ali was the founder himself.