by Damir Dibra

In 1863; under the direction of Smajl Martin Ivezaj and Om Hak Kajoshaj, as a young man he led small groups to ambush the Montenegrin detachments from Kuçi, which were constantly advancing towards Dinosha. In 1879; together with Baca Kurti he defended the positions around Dinosha. In April 1880; he participated in the Battle of Zharnica, where the Montenegrin army turned back with heavy losses.

Later, in the Battle of Vrana, he led the detachments deployed on the front line. Above the Vrana field there was a strategic point named Gurzi. Mustafa, knowing every path like the back of his hand, positioned himself with a squad there. From here, the road to the hill was controlled, where the Montenegrin camps tried to pass. There, the squad opened sudden fire, forcing them to turn back; and Mustafa was known for using the “breshana” with great accuracy.

In a skirmish that took place again in Vrana; at a place called Kantash, Mustafa was wounded. The Montenegrins had taken a higher position, but Mustafa, crawling, approached so close that the fight began face to face. There he received a serious wound. After the front was somewhat stabilized, Mustafa was taken down at night to Dinosha, near the banks of the Cemi.

He was treated by the women of the tribe with folk ointments, made with pine resin, ram fat and mountain herbs. At the beginning of 1883; the sultan’s military court will condemn a large number of chiefs from Hoti and Gruda, where Mustafa was also part, but he was never captured by the Turkish authorities.