The Anglo-Zanzibar War

It lasted barely forty minutes, but it brought slavery to an end in the little island territory.

1896

Queen Victoria 1837-1901

Introduction

The Anglo-Zanzibar War on the 27th of August 1896 is the shortest in British history, but to the people of Zanzibar it meant everything.

by Clay Lane

Find Zanzibar on Google Maps.

ZANZIBAR is an island territory off the east coast of Africa, now part of Tanzania.

Relations with Britain had been good ever since the island gained independence from the Sultanate of Oman in 1858. However, the British were keen to use their influence to eradicate slavery, and not every Zanzibari was happy with that.

On the 25th of August 1896, the Sultan of Zanzibar died suddenly, and his pro-slavery nephew, Khalid bin Bargash, took his place. The British demanded that he step down, but he refused, and two days later the first shots were fired in the Anglo-Zanzibar War.

Inside forty minutes, Khalid’s palace was in ruins, and the war was over. On the British side, just one sailor was injured. Nine hundred Zanzibaris fought for the British.

The upstart Sultan was exiled, and a few months later his replacement, Hamud bin Muhammed, abolished slavery in all its forms.

by Clay Lane

Précis

In 1896, the Sultan of Zanzibar, friendly to Britain, died in suspicious circumstances. His pro-slavery nephew took his place, and the British threatened war if he did not step down. When he refused, the British, supported by nine hundred Zanzibaris, drove him out of power in thirty-eight minutes - to this day, the shortest war in history.

The Anglo-Zanzibar War

Introduction

Précis

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