In 1879, when Charles de Freycinet became prime minister of France and Admiral Bernard Jauréguiberry his minister of the navy, a new French colonial policy was launched: the French government began to lend more active support to military expansion in western and northern Africa.
I 1879, da Charles de Freycinet blev premierminister i Frankrig og admiral Bernard Jaureguiberry hans minister for flåden, blev en ny fransk kolonipolitik lanceret: den franske regering begyndte at søge mere aktiv støtte til militær ekspansion i det vestlige og nordlige Afrika.