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Nile in Sudan, opposite the capital, Khartoum. Though it is often considered a poor suburb of Khartoum, Omdurman has a population of over 1.2 million (1993). It also has a distinct identity, dating back to the days of the Muhammad Ahmad, the "Mahdi," who is buried here. It was in the Battle of Omdurman that Lord Kitchener finally defeated the Mahdist forces, ensuring British control over the Sudan.