the site of modern ngaoundéré had previously been occupied by a mbum capital, but the present city dates from around 1835, when it was founded by the fulani leader ardo njobdi. the fula continued to hold the area during the 19th century and ngaoundéré was visited in 1882 by robert flegel. ardo muhammadu abbo signed a protection agreement with the german explorer siegfried passarge in 1894 and a series of agreements between germany, britain, and france placed the area within germany's sphere of influence. the german army occupied the town (period ) by main force on september 20, 1901. on july 29, 1915, the town was the scene of a skirmish between german and british troops during world war i's kamerun campaign. following the war, the area fell under french occupation until the independence of cameroon.