Sunni Ali, also known as
Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He
reigned from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first king of the
Songhai Empire, located in west Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. Under Sunni Ali's infantry and cavalry many cities were captured and then fortified, such as
Timbuktu (captured in 1468) and
Djenné (captured in 1475). Sonni conducted a repressive policy against the scholars of
Timbuktu, especially those of the
Sankore region who were associated with the
Tuareg whom Ali expelled to gain control of the town.