African Journal of
History and Culture

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Hist. Cult.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-6672
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJHC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 199

Review

The religious motivation in raise and collapse of El-Mahdiyya government from 1880-1898, and its effect on the modern Sudan: Sudanese religious conflicts 4

Samuel Jock Bany Mading
  • Samuel Jock Bany Mading
  • Department of History and Culture, Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Bor, South Sudan.
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Aleu Garang Aleu
  • Aleu Garang Aleu
  • School of Community Studies and Rural Development, University of Juba, South Sudan.
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  •  Received: 12 March 2021
  •  Accepted: 16 December 2021
  •  Published: 30 September 2024

Abstract

The objective of this article is to narrate and discuss the evolution of an Islamic movement established in 1880 by a religious leader named Mohamed Ahmed, who claimed spiritual inspiration. The theocratic government that emerged from this movement came to an end in 1898 due to the cooperation of Anglo-Egyptian troops. The article evaluates the key elements that motivated the religious leaders in their movement, enabling them to defeat the powerful Turko-Egyptian condominium government, which had occupied Sudan in 1821 and was technically supported by European nations. The discussion also covers the internal weaknesses of the movement that led to its collapse within 18 years. The initial collapse resulted in the death of most of the movement's leaders, who were killed by the foreign invaders of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, which subsequently ruled the country for 58 years. Additionally, the article analyzes the impact of the El-Mahdiyya movement, both positive and negative, on modern Sudanese governments during the 65 years following independence in January 1956.

 

Key words: Anglo-Egyptian, El-Khalifa, El-Madi, government, Khartoum, religion, Sudan, war.