Sultanate of Zanzibar

The Sultanate of Zanzibar existed between 1861 and 1964 on the Zanzibar archipelago, whose main islands Zanzibar and Pemba . It was first a protectorate of different nations and between December 1963 and January 12, 1964 an independent state. After this it was about in the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba . Today it is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania .

History
The Portuguese acquired Zanzibar as nautical foothold on the long way around Africa to India in 1503, and suggested there governors until it was transferred in December 1698 to the Arabian sultanate of Oman (also known as the Sultanate of Muscat, the capital) henceforth appointed Arab governors. The good, the strategically located harbor was a focal point in the indigenous and colonial trade and other contacts between the Swahili reserve area of East Africa, the Indian Ocean and the European colonial powers.

Since September 14, 1806 ruled the Al'Bu Sa`id - branch of the Oman sultan dynasty of the island as a dependent state, since 1840 as well as the motherland under the influence of the British consuls in Muscat. The single ruler title was hami but confirmed since the 1856 Declaration of Independence was an agreement with London and Oman in 1861 is the international title sultan usual.

On February 17, 1885, the German Empire evokes a protectorate of Zanzibar, but on November 7, 1890 the Kaiser accepts that transfer to the British, who in return the strategic North Sea island of Helgoland relinquish. Since 1890 the office of (large) vizier (head of government) held by Britons, since 1913 officially the UK residents (quasiambassadors, but of lower rank, but governors in quasi-colonial context).

On July 1, 1895 the Continental Africa Zanzibarese ancient Tibetan areas under control (especially the former sultanate be Kilwa Kisiwani ) ceded to the British, who as the protectorate of Kenya attach to their existing colony of that name. The island states Pemba , Hadimu and Tumbatu remain dependencies of Zanzibar, each to their own dynasty dies or is discarded in the case of the Diwani s Tumbatu.

On June 24, 1963, London is self far, the protectorate is lifted on 10 December. On 12 January 1964, became the democratically elected government and the sultan was overthrown in a coup led by John Okello, a Ugandan . He created the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba, which was merged on April 26, 1964 with the much larger and wealthier people 's Republic of Tanganyika to the United Republic of Tanzania . Within this new land acquired Zanzibar autonomous status with its own president.