 A few years later, the Negus of Gojjam, Tekle Haymanot (a vassal of Emperor Yohannes) attacked the Mahdists at Metemma in January 1887 and sacked the town.In response, that next year the Mahdists under Abu Anga campaigned out of Metemma into Ethiopia; their objective was the town of Gondar.Tekle Haymanot confronted him at Sar Weha on 18 January 1888, but was badly defeated.