The combat formed part of the East Africa Campaign and ended with the capture of Mahenge by the Belgian forces on 9 October 1917.

This changed on 15 August 1914 when German ships, stationed on Lake Tanganyika, bombed the port of Mokolobu and the Lukuga post a week later.

After the occupation of Ruanda in May 1916 and of Urundi in June 1916, the Belgo-Congolese forces advanced southwards from Kitega along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.

[2] After the Battle of Tabora the British and Belgian governments agreed that the latter would retreat the majority of its forces to Rwanda and Urundi[3] and to bring its military campaign in German East Africa to a conclusion.

Because of the continued German resistance and their growing experience in guerrilla warfare tactics, the troops of the ‘Force Publique’ were moved to the Dodoma-Kilosa region in July 1917, at the request of the British government.