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This tiny former Portuguese possession was occupied by Portuguese slave traders in 1680. It functioned as a slave port until the early part of the 19th Century when it was abandon following the elimination of the legal slave trade. Portugal continued to exert its claim of sovereignty over the enclave.

The fort was reoccupied in the 1850s by representatives of the Portuguese governor of São Tomé and Principe. As French influence grew in the surrounding area the territory controlled by Portugal was reduced to the grounds actually within the walls of the former fort. The French administrators of Dahomey made several attempts to transfer the territory to French control right up until Dahomey became independent. Despite these peaceful approaches the enclave remained firmly under Portuguese administration.

Prior to independence in 1961 the incoming government attempted to negotiate a peaceful relinquishment with the Salazar government. The Portuguese refused to accede to the requests for peaceful change. Once Dahomey achieved its independence the French were no longer a restraining influence. The newly installed national government continued to deal with the Portugal. On 1 August 1961 Dahomey simply seized the territory and expelled the Portuguese administrator.

The Portuguese government continued to protest the seizure in the United Nations for many years.

In 1985 Portugal recognized the seizure and has since assisted in the maintenance of a museum at the site of the old fort. The area surrounding the old fort and its grounds has become a touristic destination.