Andrew,
I can't help with the translation. While the Thuluth is suggestive of blades available in Omdurman during the Mahdiya, the handle doesn't exhibit any Sudanese design motifs that I am aware of. Maybe of unknown types from Northern Sudan influenced by Nubian culture?? Maybe similar examples can be offered by others.
Edit: Just found a couple of examples like your handle style attributable to Mahdist Sudan. Often with triple daggers with croc. skin sheaths. Here's a link (but with a price. couldn't separate dagger from the price). Google images of thuluth daggers. Still, no info on what ethnic group/region produced them.
https://www.faganarms.com/products/s...mahdist-war-15
See this link too.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=262229
Best,
Ed