Under Arab rule from the 13th century, Sudan was conquered by Egypt in 1820-2. It was separated from its northern neighbour by the Mahdist revolt of 1881-98 and administered after the reconquest of 1898 as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium. It became an independent republic in 1956, but has suffered severely as a result of protracted civil war between the Islamic government in the north and separatist forces in the south and west.