Samori Toure

Samori Toure founded the Wassoulou Empire in West Africa, uniting various Mandinka states under his rule. He established a centralized administration and a professional army, creating a powerful state that resisted French expansion.

Samori Toure modernized his army by importing firearms from European traders and establishing a standing army of up to 35,000 men. He organized his forces into regular units and introduced new tactics, making them effective against French troops.

Samori Toure's forces fought the French army in the first major conflict between the Wassoulou Empire and France. The war ended with a treaty in 1886, recognizing Samori's control over the Niger River region.

The French resumed hostilities, forcing Samori to retreat eastward. He employed a scorched-earth strategy, destroying villages and crops to deny resources to the French, prolonging the conflict for years.

Samori Toure was captured by French forces after a long campaign. He was exiled to Gabon, where he died in 1900. His capture ended the Wassoulou Empire and marked the completion of French conquest in West Africa.