19th century – 19th century
West Africa
Samori’s Wars with France were a prolonged sequence of confrontations between the Mandingo Empire and French forces during the expansion of French Sudan. The conflict began after Samori rejected a French demand to withdraw from Kenyeran in 1882 and continued through battles, treaties, territorial concessions, French occupations and Samori’s eastward migration. French offensives captured key centres including Kankan and Bissandugu, while Samori maintained resistance until his capture at Guelemou in 1898.
Continue exploring
The Story
The conflict opened in 1882 when Lieutenant Alakamessa ordered Samori to withdraw from Kenyeran, an important market centre on the route toward the Mandingo areas. Samori refused, and Borgnis-Desbordes launched a surprise attack that ended in a French retreat. Fighting continued near Bamako, where Samori’s brother Kémé-Brema first won a battle on 2 April but was defeated on 12 April by a smaller French force.
French occupation of Bure in 1885 threatened a major economic foundation of Samori’s state. Samori responded with three armies in a pincer movement that recaptured the area and forced the French to withdraw. Diplomacy then became part of the conflict: Samori sought British protection in Sierra Leone, signed a treaty with France on 28 March 1886, and accepted further concessions in a treaty of 25 March 1887. These agreements did not prevent renewed warfare because both sides pursued incompatible strategic aims.
After breaking with France, Samori reorganized his army and used mobile defence. Archinard captured Kankan on 7 April 1891 and burned Bissandugu, but Samori continued to attack French positions and defeated them at Dabadugu on 3 September. Humbert’s major offensive in January 1892 captured Bissandugu, Sanankoro and Kerwane, although the French commander acknowledged that the gains were small compared with the losses suffered.
The 1892 encounters convinced Samori that continued direct confrontation with France was futile. He rejected surrender and moved eastward toward the Bandama and Comoé rivers, while maintaining a scorched-earth policy. Despite losing his final modern-weapons supply route through Monrovia in 1894, he continued fighting, defeated a French column under Monteil in early 1895, and expanded into Gyaman and western Gonja.
By 1897, Samori was caught between French and British forces. His son Sarankenyi-Mori defeated a British column near Wa, while Samori attacked Kong and then encountered French forces near Bobo. Attempts to create division between Britain and France failed. Gouraud captured Samori at Guelemou on 29 September 1898, ending the prolonged military struggle.
19th century – 19th century
West Africa
Samori’s Wars with France were a prolonged sequence of confrontations between the Mandingo Empire and French forces during the expansion of French Sudan. The conflict began after Samori rejected a French demand to withdraw from Kenyeran in 1882 and continued through battles, treaties, territorial concessions, French occupations and Samori’s eastward migration. French offensives captured key centres including Kankan and Bissandugu, while Samori maintained resistance until his capture at Guelemou in 1898.
Continue exploring
The Story
The conflict opened in 1882 when Lieutenant Alakamessa ordered Samori to withdraw from Kenyeran, an important market centre on the route toward the Mandingo areas. Samori refused, and Borgnis-Desbordes launched a surprise attack that ended in a French retreat. Fighting continued near Bamako, where Samori’s brother Kémé-Brema first won a battle on 2 April but was defeated on 12 April by a smaller French force.
French occupation of Bure in 1885 threatened a major economic foundation of Samori’s state. Samori responded with three armies in a pincer movement that recaptured the area and forced the French to withdraw. Diplomacy then became part of the conflict: Samori sought British protection in Sierra Leone, signed a treaty with France on 28 March 1886, and accepted further concessions in a treaty of 25 March 1887. These agreements did not prevent renewed warfare because both sides pursued incompatible strategic aims.
After breaking with France, Samori reorganized his army and used mobile defence. Archinard captured Kankan on 7 April 1891 and burned Bissandugu, but Samori continued to attack French positions and defeated them at Dabadugu on 3 September. Humbert’s major offensive in January 1892 captured Bissandugu, Sanankoro and Kerwane, although the French commander acknowledged that the gains were small compared with the losses suffered.
The 1892 encounters convinced Samori that continued direct confrontation with France was futile. He rejected surrender and moved eastward toward the Bandama and Comoé rivers, while maintaining a scorched-earth policy. Despite losing his final modern-weapons supply route through Monrovia in 1894, he continued fighting, defeated a French column under Monteil in early 1895, and expanded into Gyaman and western Gonja.
By 1897, Samori was caught between French and British forces. His son Sarankenyi-Mori defeated a British column near Wa, while Samori attacked Kong and then encountered French forces near Bobo. Attempts to create division between Britain and France failed. Gouraud captured Samori at Guelemou on 29 September 1898, ending the prolonged military struggle.
Continue the journey
Other paths related to this story.