ahmad chose a bad time, however, because the portuguese empire was muscling into east africa. they had taken over the whole east african coast up to baraawe, and were trying to take over mogadishu. the portuguese decided to help out the ethiopians because the ethiopians were christians and the portuguese did not like muslims. ahmad had taken over more than half of ethiopia when a troop of portuguese musketeers showed up to help the ethiopians out. one portuguese musketeer managed to shoot ahmad himself, killing him.