During the Mahdist period (1883–98) tens of thousands of Baggara migrated to Omdurman and central Sudan where they provided many of the troops for the Mahdist armies.
I Mahdi-perioden (1883-98) emigrerede titusindvis af baggara til Omdurman og det centrale Sudan, hvor de supplerede Mahdi-hæren med mange soldater.