Osman Digna

Osman Digna
Osman Digna in old age
Born	c. 1840 Suakin
Died	1926
Allegiance	Mahdist State
Years of service	1883–1899
Rank	Emir
Battles/wars	Mahdist War Battles of El Teb Battle of Tamai Battle of Kufit Battle of Suakin Battle of Atbara Battle of Umm Diwaykarat

Osman Digna (Arabic: عثمان دقنة) (c. 1840–1926) was a follower of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, in Sudan, who became his best known military commander during the Mahdist War. He was claimed to be a descendant from the Abbasid family. As the Mahdi's ablest general, he played an important role in the fate of General Charles George Gordon and the end of Turkish-Egyptian rule in Sudan.

In Britain, Osman Digna became a notorious figure, both demonised as a savage and respected as a warrior. Winston Churchill described him as an "astute" and "prudent" man, calling him "the celebrated, and perhaps immortal, Osman Digna."^[1]