French troops occupied the fort despite protests from the British Agent in Aden, Major Frederick Mercer Hunter, who dispatched troops to safeguard British and Egyptian interests in Zeila and prevent further extension of French influence in that direction.
As tropas francesas ocuparon a fortaleza a pesar das protestas do axente británico en Aden, o comandante Frederick Mercer Hunter, que enviou tropas para protexer os intereses británicos e exipcios en Zeila e impedir a prolongación da influencia francesa nesa dirección.