Established 12 February 1897 by Khedive Abbas Hilmi Pasha, this medal was initially to commemorate the reconquest of the Dongola province in 1896.

The reverse shows an oval shield superimposed over a trophy of flags and arms.

[1] For British troops, the recipient's name and details were engraved on the medal's edge.

It is yellow with a broad centre stripe of blue, representing the Nile flowing through the desert.

[4]Fifteen different clasps were authorised and awarded:[5] A number of medals were awarded with no clasp, including for service during 1896 to an Indian Army force based at Suakin, and to the crews of HMS Melita and HMS Scout, that served off the Sudanese coast during the same period.