Stakeholder size (number of people) 70 million

Area of Influence
a. Geographic area: Direct ruler of Sokoto emirate, extreme northwest of Nigeria, 32,000 sq. km, but also influences all emirs across the country
b. Population subsets: Sultan is the spiritual leader of all of Nigeria’s 70 million Muslims, as well as Muslims in neighboring Niger. (The ancient Sokoto caliphate cuts through wide swaths of present-day Niger.) Sokoto State comprised of Hausa, Fulani and Zabarmawa cultures.

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders?
• Sultan Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar III, turbaned on Nov. 1, 2006
• Previously, Sultan Muhammadu Maccido, Abubakar’s older brother, died in plane crash on Oct. 29, 2006
b. How does one gain influence in the group?
• All Sultans are descendants of Usman dan Fodio, the first ruler of the Sokoto caliphate
• The current Sultan is from the ruling Bello Dynasty
• The Sultan is “chosen through consensus by the kingmakers and sent to the governor for approval.” The Sokoto State Government then approves and makes the public announcement of the appointment.
c. What issues do they care about?
• To serve as the spiritual authority to all regional Muslims
• As stated on the Sultan’s website, “One of the central functions of caliphal leadership, including emirs (or their equivalents) has been to try to mediate conflict, and, ideally, preempt conflict before it undermines the integrity of the state.”
• Additionally, the Sultan tries to “achieve unity with diversity, and justice for all irrespective of class, ideology and other affiliation.”
d. What does the organizational structure look like?
i. Rule by consensus of the Sultanate’s kingmakers

Financial Resources (if applicable)
a. List activities that generate cash flow: unknown…donations?
b. Income from activities: unknown
c. Profitability: unknown

Military Resources (if applicable) (n/a)
a. What arms do they possess
i. What type? n/a
ii. How much? n/a
b. Experience level: Interestingly, the position of Sultan is not officially a religious one, and Abubakar’s background is in the military. He was a brigadier general in the army, the government’s defense attaché to Pakistan, and a peacekeeper in Chad and Sierra Leone.