How did France establish control over Mauritania in the early 20th century?

France established control over Mauritania in the early 20th century through a process the French military termed "pacification," which continued until 1912. While French governors had established treaty relations with regional leaders as early as 1858, France made little effort to exert actual control over the territory until the opening years of the 1900s.1

The colonial occupation was characterized by a limited French presence, leading the French to nickname the colony "Le Grand Vide" (the great void). During this period, Moorish lineages were divided, with some groups actively assisting the French while others opposed their presence. Military efforts to subdue resistance continued well beyond the initial pacification, with the final battle against a Reguibat band occurring in 1934. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the region was administered as a French colony and was eventually incorporated into the administrative grouping of French West Africa.123