Rabah State

a state in the center of the geographical zone of the Sudan, in the late 19th century. It was headed by Rabah (an Arab from the city of Sennar), who had participated in the struggle against British colonialists in the eastern Sudan. After the British had seized the eastern Sudan, Rabah and a detachment of 700 men retreated to the Lake Chad region, where Rabah founded a state that by the mid-1890’s included almost the entire territory of Baguirmi, part of Wadai, and the Kanem-Bornu Empire. From 1894, the capital of the state was Dikwa. In the conquered lands, the authority of local tribal leaders was partially preserved. These leaders, however, were subordinate to governors appointed by Rabah.

The Rabah state offered stubborn resistance to the French troops that began advancing into the Lake Chad region in 1899. In a battle at Kousseri on Apr. 22, 1900, Rabah’s army suffered defeat and Rabah himself was killed. The territory of the Rabah state was added to the French possessions in Africa.