The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought on August 27, 1896, is considered the shortest war in history, lasting between 38 and 45 minutes. The conflict occurred between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, a small island nation off the coast of East Africa. The war began after the death of the pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini, when a rival, Sultan Khalid bin Barghash, took power without British approval. The British gave an ultimatum for Khalid to step down, and when he refused, the British forces bombarded the palace, quickly ending the conflict.
The Consequences of the Anglo-Zanzibar War
Despite the brevity of the war, the consequences were significant. The British defeated the Zanzibari forces in a matter of minutes, with only a few casualties on the British side. The Sultan’s palace was destroyed, and the resistance from the Zanzibari forces quickly collapsed. Following the war, Sultan Khalid fled the island, and a new pro-British Sultan, Hamoud bin Mohammed, was installed. The war marked the end of Zanzibar's independence and further solidified British influence in the region. While it was a very short conflict, the Anglo-Zanzibar War had a lasting impact on Zanzibar's political landscape. Shutdown123