After British and French forces had landed in and occupied the major port city of Duala in September 1914, the German garrison that had once protected it retreated inland.

The largest group which included Kamerun's governor, Karl Ebermaier and commandant, Major Zimmermann, had moved southeast along the southern railway line to the village of Edea.

General Dobell, the British commander at Duala feared that the German forces that had retreated could pose a threat to his new acquisitions, prompting attacks on Jabassi and Edea in October 1914.

A small German detachment remained entrenched on the far side of the Dibamba River at the damaged bridge while the majority of the force had retreated to Edea.

On 6 October, a French force of 400 tirailleurs under Colonel Mayer assisted by British naval bombardment made an assault on this position.

The French column under Mayer that had moved east along the railway line from Yapoma encountered heavy resistance throughout their advance and suffered severe casualties as a result.

[8] Following the success at Jabassi and now Edea, the only remaining German unit that had withdrawn from Duala in September was the one which moved north towards the fort at Dschang.