Battle of Kousséri
Kousséri, Far North Region, Cameroon, across the river from N'Djamena, Chad
What happened
French colonial forces under Major Amédée-François Lamy and Émile Gentil, with Baguirmi allies, fought the army of Rabih az-Zubayr, ruler of an empire around Lake Chad. Rabih az-Zubayr, a warlord from Sudan, had built a large empire around Lake Chad. Three French columns from the Congo, Niger and Algeria met on the Chari River and attacked his camp at Kousséri. Rabih's forces were defeated, and both Rabih and the French commander Lamy fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It gave France control of most of what is now Chad and linked its colonies across Africa. It is often seen as one of the last major battles of the 'Scramble for Africa'.
What came next
Chad became part of the French colonial empire.
Did you know?
The three French columns had marched from the Congo, Niger and Algeria to meet just one day before the battle.
Timeline
- 1893Rabih takes control of the Bornu Empire.
- 3 March 1900French forces take the village of Kousséri.
- 21 April 1900Three French columns join on the Chari River.
- 22 April 1900The French win at Kousséri.