<P> As a part of the Scramble for Africa, France had the establishment of a continuous west - east axis of the continent as an objective, in contrast with the British north - south axis . Tensions between Britain and France reached tinder stage in Africa . At several points war was possible, but never happened . The most serious episode was the Fashoda Incident of 1898 . French troops tried to claim an area in the Southern Sudan, and a much more powerful British force purporting to be acting in the interests of the Khedive of Egypt arrived to confront them . Under heavy pressure the French withdrew securing British control over the area . The status quo was recognised by an agreement between the two states acknowledging British control over Egypt, while France became the dominant power in Morocco, but France suffered a humiliating defeat overall . </P> <Ul> <Li> Congo Free State and Belgian Congo (today's Democratic Republic of the Congo) </Li> <Li> Ruanda - Urundi (comprising modern Rwanda and Burundi, between 1916 and 1960) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Congo Free State and Belgian Congo (today's Democratic Republic of the Congo) </Li> <Li> Ruanda - Urundi (comprising modern Rwanda and Burundi, between 1916 and 1960) </Li>

With whom did states in east africa trade