How did the Egyptian government's campaign against the slave trade affect Sudan?

The Egyptian government’s campaign against the slave trade, intensified under Ismāʿīl Pasha to secure European financial and diplomatic support, had profound destabilizing effects on the Sudan.1

The campaign, led by European officials such as Samuel White Baker and Charles George Gordon, disrupted the Sudanese economy, which was heavily reliant on the slave trade. Beyond economic hardship, the crusade caused deep social and religious resentment. The Sudanese viewed the suppression efforts—led by non-Muslim European Christians—as a violation of the principles and traditions of Islam.12

This widespread discontent, fueled by the perceived arrogance of foreign officials and the economic crisis, created a volatile environment. It was against this backdrop of anger toward the Egyptian administration that Muḥammad Aḥmad emerged, proclaiming his divine mission to purify Islam and overthrow the government. Ultimately, the campaign contributed to the collapse of Egyptian authority in the region and the rise of the Mahdist state.132