The Dervish movement, which began in the Sudan in the late 19th century, was a religious and political uprising against foreign occupation and internal corruption. Led by Muhammad Ahmad, who proclaimed himself the Mahdi (the guided one), the Dervishes gained widespread support among the Sudanese people, who were disillusioned with the ruling Egyptian and British authorities. The movement's initial successes, including the capture of Khartoum in 1885, posed a significant challenge to the colonial powers. However, the Dervish state, though initially strong, eventually succumbed to internal divisions and external military pressure, leading to its defeat by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1898.