The Egyptians attempted a number of unsuccessful invasions of the Bogos/Hamasien provinces in present-day Eritrea, which were repelled by Emperor Tewodros II.

Eliakim Littel (1894) describes the remains of an Egyptian fortress built near Harar to protect the trade routes linking Harar to Zeila from the Gadabuursi:On the east bank of the Dega-hardani are the remains of a fortress built by the Egyptians during their occupation of this country, of which I shall have more to say.

The object of this wayside fort was to protect their trade from the plundering Gadabursi tribe, whose country at this place approaches the road.

Reaching Aussa on 14 November, the Egyptian forces were attacked at night by a large number of Gallas.

The Afar and Galla forces under Sultan Muhammed Hanfadhe destroyed the Egyptian army, leaving only a small number who fled to Massawa.

[23][24][25] Soon after the destruction of the Egyptian expedition, Arabs from Mocha (then ruled by the Ottomans) attempted an invasion of Zeila and Aussa.

He received a mid-1875 letter in Arabic from the Sultan of the Jaarso Adam Ashabbiye, who had participated in skirmishes between the Egyptians and Oromo.

[29] Rauf entered Jarso in early October 1875, and was welcomed by 62 Jaarso leaders who had agreed to surrender their territories to him.

[36] In September 1875, a large Afran Qallo force under Orfo Jilo Biko ambushed the Egyptian army west of Harar.

When Rauf invited the Harari leaders to discuss the occupation, Ali Abu Bakr offered to betray his cousin.

Oromo leader Orfo Jilo Biko attacked both Egyptian flanks, but Rauf's firepower destroyed his cavalry and archers.

The Nole Oromo led their army into the outskirts of their territory at Eguu (thirty miles west of Harar), which the Egyptians planned to attack.

Rauf ordered the Egyptians to rush to Dire Gofile, deep in Nole territory (east of Harar), after the battle of Hakim in an attempt to intimidate the Nole Oromo; he also took advantage of Oromo leader Orfo Jilo Bikos' presence in the region.

[51] Garad/Sultan Adam Asshabiye, the ruler of the Jarso, made peace with the Egyptians, however his son Aaqil (Muhumad) and successor continued resistance.

[52] Hunter's main concern was Berbera, as rumours spread about the Egyptian disaster in the Sudanese ports.

[53] The governance of Abd al-Rahman Bey, led to the enforcement of exploitative policies which inflamed local unrest.

[54] That year, the Capuchins arrived in Harar without telling the Egyptians; their mission was successful in Berbera, but failed in Zeila.

Hunter returned from Aden in August 1884, and ordered Nuba Pasha to evacuate Zeila; this was impossible, however, due to Emir Abu Bakr's influence on the area's Somali tribes.

On 27 October 1884, the Egyptians left Sagallo; Abu Bakr told the British that the next night, the French planted their flag in the area.