The Conquest of Darfur, 1873-1882

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	The Conquest of Darfur, 1873-1882
Author:	O'Fahey, Rex S.
Year:	1997
Periodical:	Sudan Notes and Records
Volume:	1
Pages:	47-67
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Sudan
Subjects:	Darfur polity history 1800-1899 History and Exploration colonialism Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:	In 1874 the conquest of the Keira Sultanate of Darfur by al-Zubayr Pasha marked a climactic point in the history of the Sudan. As a military campaign, the conquest prefigured much of the strategy exploited so successfully by the Mahdist Revolution, providing a training ground for some of the Mahdi's best generals. Originally the Turco-Egyptian administration had not thought to incorporate Darfur into the Sudan, perhaps regarding it as a convenient slave trading post. Expansion of trade, especially into the area of Bahr al-Ghazal south of Darfur meant that traders, one al-Zubayr Rahma al-Mansur in particular, were keen to build up trading empires, including slaves. Banned from using the route along the White Nile as an outlet by Khedive Ismail's antislavery measures, al-Zubayr pushed north overland into the territories of the Baqqara. This brought conflict with the sultanate in whose territory these cattle-nomads nominally resided. Eventually the State had to intervene and sent an expeditionary force to al-Fashir in 1873. Although officially conquered in 1874, the Fur immediately began a resistance which lasted until the outbreak of the Mahdist Revolution in 1882. Notes, ref.