The Kanem-Bornu Empire was established by the:

The Kanem-Bornu Empire was one of the longest-lasting empires in African history, enduring for over a thousand years (approximately from the 9th century to the late 19th century). It was established by the Kanuri people in the area around Lake Chad, in what is now northeastern Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

The empire began as the Kanem state, founded by the Kanuri under the Sayfawa dynasty (also known as the Sefuwa dynasty). The first rulers of Kanem were Kanuri leaders who consolidated power over the region. Over time, the capital shifted from Kanem (northeast of Lake Chad) to Bornu (southwest of Lake Chad), and the empire became known as the Kanem-Bornu Empire. Notable rulers include Mai Dunama Dibbalemi and Mai Idris Alooma, who expanded and strengthened the empire.

The Hausa people established their own independent city-states (such as Kano, Katsina, and Zaria) rather than the Kanem-Bornu Empire. The Fulani are associated with the Sokoto Caliphate, founded by Uthman dan Fodio in the early 19th century. The Tuareg were nomadic Berber people of the Sahara who, while influential in trans-Saharan trade, did not establish the Kanem-Bornu Empire.

The correct answer is the Kanuri, the ethnic group that founded and sustained the Kanem-Bornu Empire throughout its long history.