The Sudan Handbook

112 the sudan handbook

situation which was not so much resolved as enshrined in the arrange-

ment known as the Condominium. Under the Condominium both

Britain and Egypt had sovereignty over the Sudan. This consisted of the

territory which had been ruled by Egypt, with its southern boundary

more or less defined by the northern boundary of Britain’s East African

territories. In practice, the British dominated the administration; but the

tension over precisely whose colony Sudan was lasted until the end of

the Condominium. Rivalry between Britain and Egypt had a significant

influence on the independence movement, and during Condominium

rule Sudan’s ambiguous legal status acted in important ways to constrain

and weaken the state.

The ‘Reconquest’ had complex motivations. Revenge for Gordon – a

popular cause with the British public – was one. But the British interest

in Egypt was a more important factor. Egypt was far more important

to the empire than Sudan could ever be. British investment in Egypt,

and the stability of the Egyptian economy, was dependent on the Nile;

the Nile flowed through Sudan; so no other European power could be

allowed to control the Sudan. It was this simple logic which drove the

‘Reconquest’ and the continued British presence. Britain was in the

Sudan to stop anyone else from being there, and control of the state was

primarily for this end.

Despite all the rhetoric and romance that has grown up around the

British presence, and the undoubtedly sincere attachment of many British

officials to the Sudan, these simple desiderata must not be forgotten. As

a result British officials found themselves pursuing sometimes contra-

dictory aims – protecting the way of life and culture of their Sudanese

subjects, and also improving and changing their material conditions.

Behind these contradictions there remained the simple imperative: the

state existed in order to control territory. It was the relative modesty

of this ambition which helped the Condominium achieve a degree of

stability, although it was a stability behind which lay always the threat

of force.

The British who dominated the administration of the Anglo-Egyptian

The Sudan Handbook, edited by John Ryle, Justin Willis, Suliman Baldo and Jok Madut Jok. © 2011 Rift Valley Institute and contributors prided^ themselves^ on^ the^ order^ and^ regularity^ of^ their^ rule;^ and^ through^

(www.riftvalley.net).