A Zanzibar trader who extended his influence into the Congo region and much of East Africa. In 1870, al-Murjabi also known as Tippu Tib built a formidable empire centred in the Maniema region and established his supremacy over a number of African chiefs and over rival Zanzibar traders. In 1876, he was approached by Sultan of Zanzibar as well as by an envoy of King Leopard II of Belgium for the support of their ambitions in that region. Relations between the Congo free state and the Arabs had begun to deteriorate as a result of various European activities which undermined the Arab's commercial position and in the ensuing conflict (1892-1894) his son got killed and he had to spend his last years in retirement.