Mahdist War (1881-1899). It faced the followers of Sudanese religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, against Egyptian Khedivate troops, who were later joined by British forces. Suakin, Sudan. City blockaded by Mahdi loyalists. At that time it was Sudan's main port on the Red Sea, which was threatened by the Sudanese warlord Osman Digna (1836-1926). Suakin housed the headquarters of the Anglo-Egyptian troops that were fighting against the Mahdi. On February 13, 1883, Egyptian troops under the command of General Hicks Pasha (1830-1883) landed at Suakin to fight the rebellion. Engraving by Rico. La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana (The Spanish and American Illustration), 1883.