The 1880s saw an intense competition between European powers for territories in Africa, a process known as the Scramble for Africa. The process culminated in the Berlin Conference of 1884, in which the European nations concerned agreed upon their respective territorial claims and the rules of engagements going forward. As a result of this France gained control the upper valley of the Niger River (roughly equivalent to the areas of modern Mali and Niger).[3] France occupied this area in 1900, declaring it the military territory of Niger, ruled originally from Zinder.