France expanded its empire in North Africa in the 1830s, first taking control of Algiers in 1830 and making it a formal colony. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, allowing France to exert political control while leaving internal autonomy. Britain also expanded its influence, establishing a protectorate over Egypt in 1882 after suppressing a rebellion and occupying the Suez Canal zone until 1954 to protect its route to India. Both countries sought to control North Africa for its natural resources like petroleum and fertile land as well as strategic locations.