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The 'battle of Kousséri' originated in French plans to occupy the Chari-Baguirmi region. In 1899–1900, the French organized three armed columns, one proceeding north from Congo, one east from Niger and another south from Algeria. The objective was to link all French possessions in Western Africa, and this was achieved April 21, 1900 at Kousséri, in what today is northern Cameroon. The next day the three columns commanded by Major Amédée-François Lamy confronted Rabih az-Zubayr, a Sudanese who controlled most of Chad. The French won the ensuing battle, ensuring them the control of most of Chad, but the battle cost both commanders their lives.