Paul M. Krueger

Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic.

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ㅤThe Zanzibar Revolution began on January 12, 1964, when the island’s majority Black African population overthrew Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah and his predominantly Arab government. Although Zanzibar had achieved independence from Britain in 1963, the Arab minority retained political control despite the African majority securing a greater share of the votes in preceding elections. Frustrated by this lack of parliamentary representation, the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), led by John Okello, mobilized a force of approximately 600 to 800 insurgents on the main island of Unguja. These insurgents overwhelmed the local police force, seized their weaponry, and successfully toppled the government in Zanzibar Town.

ㅤThe aftermath of the coup was characterized by significant violence and geopolitical realignment. Insurgents targeted Arab and South Asian civilians, resulting in massacres, looting, and widespread displacement; death toll estimates vary drastically from several hundred to 20,000, with approximately 25% of the Arab population killed and an estimated 10,000 people fleeing the island. While Western powers feared the new government’s potential communist ties, they did not intervene militarily. The revolution ultimately ended over 250 years of Arab dominance and led President Abeid Karume to negotiate a merger with Tanganyika, creating the modern nation of Tanzania.

Hi Michael.