The Turkish government's affair there ended. The Mahdi continued to correspond with the Khatmiyya even after Sayyid Muhammad Uthman migrated to Egypt, as he sent to him with Al-Hussein Al-Zahra in 2 Sha'ban 1307 AH (1890 AD). The dispute between the Khatmiyya and the Ansar evolved from a stage of dialogue to action, resulting in a bloody conflict between the Mahdist armies, which the Mahdi sent to conquer the East, and the men of the Khatmiyya tariqa. The Ansar proceeded to demolish the dome of Sayyid Al-Hassan in Kassala when the situation between the two groups escalated. The latter half of the Mahdist state's rule witnessed an intensification of the conflict between the Mahdiyya and the Khatmiyya, due to the Khatmiyya's support for the Kassala garrison, which enabled it to resist for several months against the Mahdi's forces. Several battles took place between the Khatmiyya and the Ansar of the Mahdi, including the incident of Timbikiyay in June 1891. Muhammad Hamed Ibrahim, nephew of the Nazir of Al-Hadendowa, attacked the caravan sent by Sayyid Muhammad Uthman to his cousin in the Khatmiyya, killing those in it. Sayyid Al-Bakri then sent those who killed Muhammad Hamed and another with him. There was also the incident of Al-Faqih Issa, which took place between Al-Faqih Issa and Muhammad Uthman. However, the pressure and siege on the Kassala garrison increased, prompting its commander to request aid from Egypt. When this was done, Muhammad Uthman decided to leave Kassala, fearing capture and mistreatment. He departed on the 1st of Ramadan 1307 AH, heading for Egypt via Massawa. He stayed in Egypt for a few days and then passed away on Saturday, January 17, 1891 AD, corresponding to 3 Rabi' al-Thani 1308 AH. After his departure, his cousin Sayyid Al-Bakri bin Sayyid Ja'far Al-Mirghani took over the Khatmiyya. He was only accompanied by a mixture of Danagla, Ja'aliyyin, Hallanqa, and Beja. Sayyid Al-Bakri remained in Kassala until it fell on May 1891 AD, corresponding to 1308 AH, after which he departed for Massawa. Despite the fall of the Khatmiyya district, the base of the tariqa, the Khatmiyya's resistance to the Ansar continued in eastern Sudan. Sayyid Uthman Taj Al-Sir led this resistance, making the city of Suakin the center of his activities.