Title: Britain Takes Just 50 Minutes to Conquer Zanzibar: Meet the Shortest War in Modern History
Zanzibar found itself surrounded by powerful empires during the late 19th century. After several years of negotiations and turmoil, it was left with little bargaining power.
In 1964, a major turning point arrived when British forces invaded and occupied the island. The brief campaign is considered one of history’s shortest wars, lasting just 50 minutes.
The Background
The famous battle that marked this short war’s end was not fought on Zanzibar but about 70 kilometers away in Mombasa, Kenya. The last Sultan of Zanzibar still held power over East Africa from Kenya’s shores—only a short distance from his former territory.
Jomo Kenyatta, the struggling freedom fighter eventually destined to become Kenya’s first president, played a crucial role in the conflict.
British Invasion and Occupation: Less Than 50 Minutes to Colonize
The British troops were well-informed that Zanzibar’s leader had already fled, leaving behind no forces defending it. They secured the city quickly—without even firing a shot—by loading their vehicles onto trains and driving them fast to their destination.
“It was a great little victory,” Sir Harold Alexander, commander of Allied armed forces in East Africa, said after the attack.
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