During the early years of the 1880s, an Egyptian regime in the Sudan, backed by the British, came under threat from rebellion under the leadership of native Muhammad Ahmad (or Ahmed), known as Mahdi to his followers.
În perioada de la începutul anilor 1880, regimul egiptean din Sudan, sprijinit de britanici, se clătina sub amenintarile rebeliunii conduse de Muhammad Ahmad (sau Ahmed), cunoscut ca "Mahdi" adepților săi.