The three kingdoms that occupied present day Majene Regency were Bangai, Pamboang (encompassing the sub-kingdom of Malunda), and Sendana.

Majene's strategic location as a remote "middle-ground" between the Spice Islands of Maluku and the Asian mainland made it an attractive target for Dutch intervention, which sought to intercept and monopolise the Maritime Southeast Asia trade routes.

[citation needed] As a result, in 1674, the Bone king Arung Palakka arrived in Majene with the Dutch to attack the Mandar kingdoms for their violation of the treaty.

However, the treaty only proved to be only marginally effective in keeping the Mandar people at bay, and the Dutch realized that only total control over the region would lead to the most successful trade monopoly.

Rumors were started, the royal governing parties became insulted (in many cases, over the alleged beauty of Mandar queens), and provocations ensued.

The territory was supervised by a single Dutch Resident Assistant (Governor), who at the time also controlled the entire island of Sulawesi.

[citation needed] The sub-Afdeling (or county) territorial boundaries outlined by the Dutch still stand today and denote the difference between Majene, Polewali, Mamasa, and Mamuju.

The Japanese strategy for ridding Asia of all western occupiers was to win the hearts and support of the locals by assuming the role of the "older brother" and promising to act in the best of interests for Indonesia upon arrival.

Then, at the end of 1943, after they had gained their respect and trust, the Japanese forcibly took the land from the Mandar people as well as anything that was produced on it, effectively starving them and re-driving them into extreme poverty.

Shortly thereafter, the Allied Forces (consisting mostly of Australians and Americans) arrived in 1946 to temporarily restore order and move the remaining Japanese troops to Baruga, an area just outside Mandar territory.

The Dutch accompanied them as well, even though they weren't technically members of the Allied Forces, in an effort to use this chaotic opportunity to regain the influence they had lost at the hand of the Japanese.

The kings cooperated with the representatives sent from this new government and the kingdoms officially dissolved in 1948 when the global community finally acknowledged the sovereignty of Indonesia.

[5][6] The Mandar people continue to be avid fishermen (catching mainly tuna, layang, cakalang, ikan terbang, tongkol, and kakap), talented sailors, competent farmers (farming predominantly cassava, rice, coconut, and bananas), dedicated silk-weavers (especially Mandar sarongs), and creative dancers (Pattudu Tomuane for males and Pattudu Towaine for Females).

[7] With this acceleration in cacao production, Governor of West Sulawesi Anwar Adnan Saleh is optimistic that the region will help Indonesia to become the world's largest cocoa producer and exporter.

Indonesia is currently the world's third largest cocoa producer after Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, contributing export earnings in excess of US$1.4 billion per year.