Louis Faidherbe, the French governor of Senegal…

Louis Faidherbe, the French governor of Senegal from 1854 to 1861 and from 1863 to 1865, implementing thie new policy of occupying the area north of the Senegal River.

In 1840 a French ordinance had established Senegal as a permanent French possession with a government whose jurisdiction extended over all settlements then effectively under French control, including those in Mauritania.

By undertaking the governance of these Mauritanian settlements, French rulers directly challenge Maure claims of sovereignty.

Under orders from the new government of Louis Napoleon to end the coutume, to secure the gum arabic trade, and to protect the sedentary populations of the southern bank from Maure raids, Faidherbe conquers the Oualo Kingdom.

He next turns his attention to the amirates of Trarza and Brakna, which have united against him.

The Maures attack Saint Louis in 1855 and almost succeed in reclaiming the settlement, but they are repulsed and defeated a year later, north of the Senegal River

The treaties ending the war extende a French protectorate over Trarza and Brakna, replace the coutume with a three percent annual rebate on the value of gum arabic delivered, and recognize French sovereignty over the northern bank of the Senegal River.