Eugène Bonnier

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Eugène Bonnier (4 January 1856 – 15 January 1894) was a French soldier who served in New Caledonia, Senegal and Tonkin. In 1893 he became Commandant Supérieur of French Sudan, taking over from Louis Archinard. He had no government instructions to advance, but Bonnier decided to seize Timbuktu, following Archinard’s plan. He left Segou on 26 December 1893 with about 204 Senegalese tirailleurs, 13 French officers and 9 NCOs, plus two cannons and gunboats, while Major Joseph Joffre’s larger force followed behind. Bonnier had previously fought in Tonkin and had been made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1883; he also served as orderly officer to Borgnis-Desbordes from 1886 to 1893. After a difficult march and river travel, on 14 January 1894 a Tuareg attack on their camp near Timbuktu killed Bonnier and many of his men. Bonnier’s death sparked debate in France about the risks of colonial campaigns and leadership decisions. In the years that followed, new expeditions were sent to secure the region and pursue Tuareg threats, including efforts to retake parts of the Niger Bend and advance toward Lake Chad.