the ajuran empire (, ), also spelled ajuuraan empire, and often simply as ajuran, was a somali empire in the medieval times that dominated the indian ocean trade. they belonged to the somali muslim sultanate that ruled over large parts of the horn of africa in the middle ages. because of their centralized administration and strong military, they were able to resist an attack by the ottoman empire. this was called gaal madow. the fought a number of wars with the portugese, and were able to withstand them. after the war, trade routes were re-established or strengthened. in the coastal provinces, trade flourished. ships sailed to and came from many kingdoms and empires in east asia, south asia, europe, the near east, north africa and east africa.