Who is conquests gave Songhai control of trading empire?

The conquests of Sunni Ali, the founder of the Songhai Empire, significantly expanded its territory and control over the trans-Saharan trade routes. By capturing key cities such as Timbuktu and Gao in the 15th century, he established Songhai as a dominant trading empire. His military campaigns and strategic alliances enabled the empire to thrive economically through trade in gold, salt, and other goods. Following him, Askia Muhammad continued to strengthen and solidify Songhai's influence over the region.