'Abd Allah (redirected from 'Abdullahi)

'Abd Allah (ibn Muhammad al-Ta'i'ishi)

 or 'Abdullahi

(born 1846, Sudan—died Nov. 24, 1899, Kordofan) Political and religious leader who succeeded Muhammad Ahmad (al-Mahdi) as head of the Mahdist movement in the Sudan in 1885. He launched attacks against the Ethiopians and invaded Egypt, securing his position by 1891. In 1896 Anglo-Egyptian forces began to reconquer the Sudan. 'Abd Allah resisted until 1898, when he was forced to flee Omdurman. He died in battle one year later.