France and United Kingdom were rival brothers; though they share history and culture they had more than 20 wars against each other from 1200 to 1815. The tension between these two Powers had been begun to rise again as a result of race of imperialism had begun in Africa in 1881. On the east of Africa France controlled Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Senegal, Mali, Nıger and Chad, and UK controlled Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somali, Kenya and South Africa. Both UK and France had similar necessities, France would like to combine trade route Sahel which is the border of Sahara from east to west, on the other hand UK dreamed to connect Egypt with south Africa.
In 1885, there was a revolt under the command of Muhammed Ahmad al-Mahdi in Sudan and it was not under the control of UK anymore. Sudan was the last stop of Sahel which is the goal of France and a small French force consisting of 120 soldiers and 12 officers reached the Fashoda and made is French protectorate in 1898. On the other side of Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian army defeated the army of Mahdi and took the control of Sudan again and began to walk to the east two imperial powers met in Fashoda. Both of two commanders did not make any move and related the situation to their capitals.
On the other side, aggressive and threatening Germany, threated the France and UK. These two imperial powers knew that they did not have enough resource and time to fight in each other while German threat was waiting on their doors. UK had an army and fleet in Fashoda but France had just a force. Furthermore, people interested in Dreyfuss Affair in France rather than Fashoda and France chosed to withdraw their forces.
This Fashoda Incident was written in history as a beginning of Fashoda Syndrome of France. This was great achievement of UK against their rival without any battle on the other side of channel it was disgraceful withdrawal for France.
These conflicts in Africa ended in 8 April 1904 with the agreement Entente Cordial. This was an agreement of rival brothers which was signed under the threat of German finger on the trigger. Owners of Controversial regions was decided with this agreement. The important was Egypt, it's owner was approved as UK by France. Morocco was approved as France's regions. Perpetual rivalry has been end by this agreement, at least publicly.
It was going to be a problem in signing of Sykes-Picot agreement and one short English gentleman Lawrance is going to threat this agreement with his personal effort during First World War.
Though both of their secret and intelligence services has worked against, they did not declare a war against each other again.
You see Marianne national symbol of French Republic an allegory of liberty and reason, dance with Brittania which is the female personification of Great Britain.
