It is important to remember that many groups in the Sudan detested the condominium and had risen against the British even before 1919.The British had repeatedly sent troops to combat the defiant Dinka in the southern Sudan almost from the time the condominium was established, in 1899, until 1917, when they were finally able to suppress the rebellions. Revolts in the Nuba Mountains had begun as early as 1903, and the Nyam Nyam contin- ued to fight the British until 1916. But these struggles garnered little atten- tion in Egypt, where they were not considered representative of any kind of "nationalist" movement. In the perspective of the time, these were tribal actions, eruptions of black tribes considered beyond the pale of organized political movements.

Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Coloni…, loc. 841