Military Leadership. Military leadership was drawn from various segments of West African social structure. Often, rulers had direct command of their forces and led their troops into battles. Emperor Nassere of the Mossi led an expedition against Ghana. Sumanguru and Sundiata in the thirteenth century and a host of other rulers at various other times and places led their armies into battles. In some kingdoms, such as Mossi, tradition forbade kings from leaving the capital city. The Mossi king Moro Naba had to appoint generals to lead his troops into battle. When Askia Muhammad II (ruled 1582-1586) of Songhai was unable to lead expeditionary forces to attack his neighbors because he was afflicted with a disease, he had to appoint generals to oversee the operations. High-ranking commanders might be rulers' relatives. Sumanguru's chief military general was his nephew, Fakoli...