As the Italian Empire expanded in East Africa, the medal's applicability was extended in 1906 and 1923 to include additional service in the region.

In 1927, the medal's applicability again was expanded to additional geographical areas of service, and eligibility for it extended to Regia Aeronautica ("Royal Air Force") personnel for the first time.

King Umberto I established the Commemorative Medal of the African Campaigns with Royal Decree Number 463 of 3 November 1894[1] to recognize personnel who had taken part in the various military campaigns carried out by Italy during its first attempts at colonial expansion in Africa between 1887 and 1896, which led to the creation of the colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland.

Indigenous soldiers of the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops (Italian: Regi corpi di truppe coloniali) of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, hired native bands, or other irregular forces qualified for the medal only if they took part in at least one of the armed incidents mentioned in sections d) or f) above.

[4] The provisions of Article 22 of the Royal Decree of 28 September 1855 on the reorganization of the Military Order of Savoy were applicable to this medal in relation to cases in which the right to wear it was lost or suspended.

[1] The ministerial instructions on how to request authorization to wear the medal were published in the Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Italy Number 284 of 4 December 1894, updated in 1895,[8] and repealed and replaced by the Norme per la concessione della medaglia d'Africa ("Rules for the granting of the African medal") published in the Official Journal Number 161 of 9 July 1896.

The reverse has the inscription Campagne d'Africa ("African Campaigns"), surrounded by two laurel branches in the form of a crown.