 In November 1739, the combined forces took over a number of important cities including the trade post of Sofara.The forces reached the important city of Djenné-Djenno, on the banks of the Niger River before they were pushed back by forces of Bitòn Coulibaly.From about 1740 until the destruction of Kong in 1898, a politically decentralized state existed with its center in the city of Kong.