[1] Baert embarked on 29 June 1885 at Antwerp on the Baltimore and arrived at Banana on 28 July 1885 He reached Vivi on 2 August 1885.

[1] The former station head, Camille Coquilhat, was fairly diplomatic and had relied on agreements with the local people and the protection of the chief Mata-Boike, with whom he had exchanged blood.

[3] Baert undertook two explorations of the Mongala River despite the hostility of the local people, who attempted to capture the steamers.

He reached Mongwandi (Businga) and the Ebola-Dua confluence on 1 December 1886, and founded a station at Moboika before returning to Bangalas.

"[4] He founded the Basankusu post at the confluence of the Maringa and the Lopori in May 1890 to stop the Arab raids and put an end to cannibalism and the slave trade.

At first the local people fully supported the pacification of the region, but later the Belgians began a policy of oppression and terror against villages that did not harvest the required amount of rubber.

When news came than Van Kerckhoven had died, he was appointed to take over the Haut Uele Expedition and planned to reach the Nile by way of Lake Albert.

Baert had been ordered by the king to evacuate the posts from the Nile and focus on consolidating the positions acquired in the Uele basin.

However, Baert intended to settle at Kavalli on Lake Albert as soon as possible, to forestall Gerald Portal advancing from Uganda.

[1] Rather than travel to the Nile at Dufilé and then ascend to Lake Albert, Baert decided to take a short route from Ganda to Kavalli through the mountains, risking supply problems and hostile local people.

Baert disarmed the Azande irregulars, but some revolted and attacked the station head Dautzenberg, who required aid from Bonvalet to escape.

On 1 January 1894 Baert decided to return to Niangara to prepare a new program for occupying Haut Uele, and to give up maintenance of garrisons in the Lado Enclave and perhaps even on the upper Dungu River.

[1] Baert waited at Niangara for reinforcements so he could again move east, but all available forces were fighting the Arabs in the north of Maniema.

Baert reached Dungu on 7 July 1894 with Francqui, who was to take over command of Uele District from Delanghe and assist the Nile expedition.