Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Aba

Battle of Aba was a battle fought in 1881 at Aba Island, in what is now Sudan. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Aba Island. It was part of the Mahdist War, which ran from 1881 to 1899. The recorded result: Mahdist victory. Recorded strength: 311 ill-armed rebels against 200 soldiers and one mountain-gun.

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Fought1881
WhereAba Island, Sudan13.333N, 32.617E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeMahdist victory
BelligerentsMahdist followers of Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi)againstEgypt
Part ofMahdist War1881 to 1899

Where it sits in the Mahdist War

Battle of Aba, 1881Battle of El Obeid, 1883First and Second Battles of El Teb, 1884Siege of Khartoum, 1884Battle of Tamai, 1884Battle of Abu Klea, 1885Battle of Tofrek, 1885Battle of Ginnis, 1885Battle of Dufile, 1888Battle of Suakin, 1888First Battle of Agordat, 1890Second Battle of Agordat, 1893Battle of Kassala, 1894Battle of Rejaf, 1897Battle of Abu Hamed, 1897Battle of Fachoda, 1898Battle of Omdurman, 1898Battle of Gedaref, 1898Battle of Umm Diwaykarat, 189918811899Battle of Aba, 1881
20 placed engagements of the Mahdist War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1881 (year precision)
PlaceAba Island, Sudan
13.333N, 32.617E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength311 ill-armed rebels200 soldiers and one mountain-gun
Casualties and losses12 killed and at least one wounded (Muhammad Ahmad)120 killed and wounded, plus 9 taken prisoner
Commanders
  • Muhammad Ahmad
  • Mohammad Bey Abu Sa'ud
  • 'Ali Effendi
Battle of AbaBattle of AbaKostiMedaniSennarEl ManaqilEd DueimUmm Ruwaba100 km13.333N, 32.617E
Placed at Aba Island; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1881

Battle of Aba is one of 3,694 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 27 in present-day Sudan.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q18161416, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Aba, revision 1370105802, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.