The battle of Kousséri originates in French plans to occupy the Chari-Baguirmi region

In 1899–1900, the French organize three armed columns, one proceeding north from Congo, one east from Niger and another south from Algeria.

The objective is to link all French possessions in Western Africa, and this is achieved April 21, 1900, on the right bank of the Chari in what is now Chad opposite Kousséri, in what today is northern Cameroon.