 By population it is one of the smallest sub-prefectures in the country (only Bambouti and Djémah are smaller).The modern town was founded by Captain Souclier in December 1912 after the fall of the last redoubt of resistance in Dar al Kuti.In May 1913, it became a subdivision comprising the area of Birao, and during the following years it came to be a part of the sub-divisions of Haute-Kotto and Dar-Kouti Oriental.