The Sudanese Mahdist War (1881-1899) was a conflict in Sudan between the forces of the Mahdist movement and the Anglo-Egyptian administration. Led by Muhammad Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi, the war aimed to establish a theocratic state based on Islamic principles. The Mahdists successfully captured Khartoum in 1885, leading to the collapse of the Egyptian government in Sudan. The war continued until 1899, when British and Egyptian forces defeated the Mahdist state at the Battle of Omdurman. This marked the end of the Mahdist rule and the establishment of British colonial control over Sudan, which lasted until the mid-20th century.