In AD 1896, an Anglo-Egyptian imperialist force invaded Sudan under General Kitchener to safeguard British interests in the Nile Valley. On 2nd September 1898 Kitchener’s army of around 25,000 troops met the 60,000 Mahdists at the Battle of Omdurman (Karari) where the Mahdists were defeated. It was a brutal display of the supremacy of machine guns and artillery.

The Madhist soldiers fought with spears and used quilted cotton armour stuffed with kapok. In full battle armour, war-horses would also have worn chain-mail or pieces of leather across the flanks and a chamfron, or headpiece, of metal and cloth.

In 1899, an Anglo-Egyptian condominium or joint authority, of which Kitchener was Governor General, was set up to rule Sudan. This lasted until independence was declared on 1 January 1956. During the condominium period, some economic development occurred as railways, telegraph, and steamer services were expanded; although services did not reach more remote areas. In 1911 a cotton-growing scheme to provide a source of high-quality cotton for Britain’s textile industry was launched in Sudan.