 Although the importance of the city in terms of commerce and Islamic study persisted, its independence and sphere of influence had decreased.On 20 February 1888 Louis Gustave Binger entered Kong and made agreements with the leaders as part of the control of the area by France as part of French West Africa.These agreements made Kong a key target for attacks from Samori Ture as a front in the Mandingo Wars between the Wassoulou Empire and the French.