[1] Eduard Pechuël-Loesche, the Brussels appointee, assumed leadership in Stanley's place, but Hanssens was given command of the Bas-Congo region, with authority from Vivi to Léopoldville.

He went up to Léopoldville, which he reached on 3 September 1882, to find that both Pechuel-Loesche and Charles-Marie de Braconnier, the station commander, were sick.

[1] Hanssens decided that the posts in the Cataracts district were in good hands, but the Upper Congo was unoccupied and at risk of being taken by the French.

On 30 October 1882 he reached Bolobo, where he negotiated for ten days with Kuka, chief of the Bayanzi, who then signed a treaty that placed his lands and people under the protection of the AIA.

Coquilhat had recently arrived from Europe and informed him of the plans by the Haut-Congo Study Committee to establish stations in Équateur and among the Bangalas.

[1] Hanssens reached to Léopoldville at the start of January 1883 and heard that Stanley had already returned from Europe and had designated him in command of the entire Kouilou-Niari River basin between the Pool and the Atlantic.

[2] The operation was in response to a concern by king Leopold II of Belgium that the Portuguese might prevail in their claim to control the mouth of the Congo.

[1] The post was founded at the confluence of the Bouenza and Niari rivers on behalf of Belgian interests under the cover of the Haut Congo Study Committee.

He returned to the upper Niadi to conclude treaties with the local chiefs and founded the post of Mukumbi on the Manyanga-Philippeville route.

Hanssens came to meet him in Léopoldville on 15 February 1884, and received order to establish presence in the region between Équateur and the Falls.

[1] Hanssens reached Équateurville on 17 April 1884 with the three steamers and six Europeans, Wester, Amelot, Drees, Guérin, Courtois and Nicholls.

[6] Van Gèle managed to persuade them to act as pilots, and after four hours of full steam on 21 April 1884 entered a strong stream of yellow water, the Ubangi, which they ascended to the Bisongo village.

After returning to Equateurville Hanssens left Van Gèle in charge and took Coquihat with him to found the Bangala station, the future Nouvelle Anvers.

[9] On return to Équateur, Hanssens made careful preparation for his expedition to the Bangalas, where he expected to place Coquilhat in command of a new station.

Hanssens left for Équateur on 11 May 1884 to obtain more supplies for his journey to the Falls, and returned to Iboko on 24 May 1884, where Coquilhat was organizing the post.

[1] Hanssens left the next day, and briefly explored the Mongala River, signing a treaty with Chief Mobeka near its mouth.

The people there were suspicious, since Hanssens had exchanged blood with their enemies, and he stayed for a few days to reassure them that the Belgians wanted friendship with all the tribes, but would not side with one against another.

On 18 October 1884 he was in Bolobo with lieutenant Liebrechts when he learned he had been made a Knight of the Order of Leopold, the first Belgian to receive this award for services in Africa.

On 3 November 1884 he heard that the Association planned an expedition to the Basokos to try to free the Italian explorer Casati, who had been captured by the people of the Nepoko on his return from a journey in the Sudan.

He assumed he would take command, but three days later announced that he intended to return to Belgium by Portuguese boat that would leave Banana on 17 November 1884.

Hanssens again met Sir Francis de Winton in Vivi and agreed to postpone taking leave and return to the Upper Congo.