In 1897 the French colonial officer Émile Gentil travelled via the Congo and Ubangi to the Chari, and then to Bagirmi, where he was told that Rabih had been responsible for the death of the explorer Paul Crampel.

Gentil met Gaourang and signed a treaty making Bagirmi a French Protectorate.

The Sultan was expected to pay taxes to the French, although the treaty was not clear on how they would be raised and what the Sultan would be able to retain for himself.

The treaty permitted slave raids on the left bank of the Chari.

Dignitaries from Bagirmi and Kuti accompanied Gentil back to France, where Gentil was able to arrange for a military expedition to defend those territories against Rabih.

Rabih felt his power was threatened by the French and invaded Bagirmi.

He attacked the town of Goulfei, where he massacred almost all the population in punishment for the welcome they had given to Gentil, and threatened Gaourang in his capital of Massenya.

Gaourang, pressed by his supporters to abandon France and accept the sovereignty of Rabih, left Massenya and took refuge in Kouno with Pierre Prins, whom Gentil had left with Gaourang as resident.

Rabih returned to Dikoa, his capital in Bornu, with more than 30,000 subjects of Gaourang as slaves.

The French explorer Ferdinand de Béhagle met Gaourang in Kouno in July 1898.

De Béhagle moved on and was received by Rabih at Dikoa on 14 March 1899.

At first he was treated well, but the two men soon quarrelled.

Rabih wanted to buy de Béhagle's rifles, and when he refused threw him in prison.

The former French naval officer Henri Bretonnet was sent to assist Gaourang.

He reached Gribingui on 30 March 1899, then moved on to N'Délé where he was the guest of Sultan as-Sanusi for three weeks.

Senoussi warned Rabih of the approach of Bretonnet, and Rabih at once began preparing his forces.

Bretonnet reached Gaourang at Kouno with a small force of 40 Senegalese at the end of June 1899.

Rabih approached with an army of 8,000 men.

On 14 July 1899 Bretonnet had to evacuate Kouno which was at once occupied by Rabih.

Bretonnet took refuge in the rocks of Togbao.

Three days later he and his men were killed at the Battle of Togbao by Rabih's supporters.

Gaourang escaped.

Ribah ordered the execution of de Béhagle on 15 October 1899.

The incident made war between France and Rabih inevitable.

Gentil now led the campaign against Rabih.

On 29 October 1899 Rabih was defeated in the Battle of Kouno by forces led by Amédée-François Lamy and Gentil, and was forced to flee north.

Gaourang promised to join Lamy in an attack on Kousséri, which the French wanted to use as a base for operations against Rabih.

The Battle of Kousséri took place on 22 April 1900, and the French won decisively.
Ribah was killed, and his head was exhibited in the town.

Lamy also died, according to one version by fire from Gaourang's troops.

If so, this must have been accidental.

With Rabih's defeat the French had connected their colonial possessions in West Africa to the Congo.
In 1897 the French colonial officer Émile Gentil travelled via the Congo and Ubangi to the Chari, and then to Bagirmi, where he was told that Rabih had been responsible for the death of the explorer Paul Crampel. 
Gentil met Gaourang and signed a treaty making Bagirmi a French Protectorate.
The Sultan was expected to pay taxes to the French, although the treaty was not clear on how they would be raised and what the Sultan would be able to retain for himself.
The treaty permitted slave raids on the left bank of the Chari.
Dignitaries from Bagirmi and Kuti accompanied Gentil back to France, where Gentil was able to arrange for a military expedition to defend those territories against Rabih.
Rabih felt his power was threatened by the French and invaded Bagirmi. 
He attacked the town of Goulfei, where he massacred almost all the population in punishment for the welcome they had given to Gentil, and threatened Gaourang in his capital of Massenya.
Gaourang, pressed by his supporters to abandon France and accept the sovereignty of Rabih, left Massenya and took refuge in Kouno with Pierre Prins, whom Gentil had left with Gaourang as resident.
Rabih returned to Dikoa, his capital in Bornu, with more than 30,000 subjects of Gaourang as slaves.
The French explorer Ferdinand de Béhagle met Gaourang in Kouno in July 1898.
De Béhagle moved on and was received by Rabih at Dikoa on 14 March 1899.
At first he was treated well, but the two men soon quarrelled.
Rabih wanted to buy de Béhagle's rifles, and when he refused threw him in prison.
The former French naval officer Henri Bretonnet was sent to assist Gaourang.
He reached Gribingui on 30 March 1899, then moved on to N'Délé where he was the guest of Sultan as-Sanusi for three weeks.
Senoussi warned Rabih of the approach of Bretonnet, and Rabih at once began preparing his forces.
Bretonnet reached Gaourang at Kouno with a small force of 40 Senegalese at the end of June 1899.
Rabih approached with an army of 8,000 men.
On 14 July 1899 Bretonnet had to evacuate Kouno which was at once occupied by Rabih.
Bretonnet took refuge in the rocks of Togbao.
Three days later he and his men were killed at the Battle of Togbao by Rabih's supporters.
Gaourang escaped.
Ribah ordered the execution of de Béhagle on 15 October 1899.
The incident made war between France and Rabih inevitable.
Gentil now led the campaign against Rabih.
On 29 October 1899 Rabih was defeated in the Battle of Kouno by forces led by Amédée-François Lamy and Gentil, and was forced to flee north.
Gaourang promised to join Lamy in an attack on Kousséri, which the French wanted to use as a base for operations against Rabih.
The Battle of Kousséri took place on 22 April 1900, and the French won decisively. Ribah was killed, and his head was exhibited in the town.
Lamy also died, according to one version by fire from Gaourang's troops. 
If so, this must have been accidental.
With Rabih's defeat the French had connected their colonial possessions in West Africa to the Congo.
Gaourang II of Bagirmi