The Zanzibar Revolution took place on 12 January 1964, in the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, which is now part of Tanzania. The revolution marked the overthrow of the Arab-dominated Sultanate and the establishment of a socialist government.
Zanzibar had a history of ethnic and social tensions, with the majority African population feeling marginalized by the Arab ruling class. The revolution was led by a coalition of African nationalist groups, including the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) and the Umma Party, who sought to address issues of economic inequality, social injustice, and racial discrimination.
On 12 January 1964, thousands of insurgents, largely drawn from the African population, stormed Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar. The revolutionaries quickly overwhelmed the Sultan's forces, leading to the ousting of Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah. Many Arab and South Asian residents faced violence and persecution during the upheaval.
After the revolution, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, led by the ASP and its leader Abeid Amani Karume, took control. The new government pursued socialist policies and aligned itself with socialist and non-aligned nations during the Cold War. In 1964, Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere.
The Zanzibar Revolution had significant social and political consequences, reshaping the political landscape of the region and addressing some of the longstanding grievances of the African majority. However, it also led to violence, displacements, and a significant exodus of the Arab and South Asian communities from Zanzibar.
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