The shortest war in history is widely considered to be the Anglo-Zanzibar War, which lasted for a mere 38 minutes on August 27, 1896. The conflict erupted between the British Empire, the dominant colonial power of the time, and the Zanzibar Sultanate, a tiny African state on the coast of East Africa.
The causes of the war are rooted in the complex web of
colonial rivalries and political maneuverings that characterized the late 19th
century. Zanzibar, a small island nation located off the coast of modern-day
Tanzania, had long been under the influence of various European powers. In
1890, the sultanate became a protectorate of the British Empire, which sought
to expand its influence in East Africa and consolidate its control over key
trade routes and resources.
However, the British colonial administration in Zanzibar
faced challenges from within. The sultanate was ruled by a young and
inexperienced leader named Khalid bin Barghash, who had recently seized power
from his uncle in a coup. Barghash was widely seen as a figurehead and puppet
of the Arab elite, who wielded absolute power behind the scenes.
The British administration viewed Barghash as a threat to
their interests and demanded that he step down and cede power to a more
compliant leader. When Barghash refused, the British responded by dispatching a
naval fleet to Zanzibar and preparing for military action.
The war itself was brief and one-sided. The British
fleet, consisting of several gunboats and a cruiser, arrived at Zanzibar early on August 27, 1896. The ships positioned themselves off the
coast and began bombarding the sultan's palace, where Barghash and his
supporters had taken refuge.
The sultan's forces attempted to return fire, but their
guns were no match for the superior firepower of the British. The palace was in flames within minutes, and the sultan's flag had been lowered. The British
fleet continued to shell the court for another half-hour until the sultan's
forces surrendered.
When the dust settled, it was clear that the war had been
a decisive victory for the British. The sultanate had been ultimately defeated,
and Barghash had fled to the German consulate in Zanzibar, where he was later
exiled. The British installed a new sultan, Hamoud bin Mohammed, who proved to
be a loyal ally and helped advance their regional interests.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War is often cited as an extreme
example of colonial aggression and imperialism. Critics argue that the British
had no legitimate reason to launch a military attack on a sovereign state and
that the war violated international law and human rights.
Others say the war was justified to protect
British interests and maintain regional stability.
Regardless of one's perspective on the war, there is no
denying that it was a unique and significant event in colonialism and warfare. The fact that a war could be fought and won in under
an hour is a powerful reminder of the speed and efficiency of modern military technology and the dangers of unchecked imperialism and
colonialism.
References:
BBC News. (2011, August 27). On this day: 1896: Britain
conquers Zanzibar. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14645541
History.com Editors. (2019, August 23). Anglo-Zanzibar
War. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/africa/anglo-zanzibar-war
Owen, R. (2016, August 26). The world's shortest war:
When Zanzibar surrendered to Britain after 38 minutes. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/the-worlds-shortest-war-when-zanzibar-surrendered-to-britain-after-38-minutes-a7204966.html
Pakenham, T. (1991). The scramble for Africa: White man's
conquest of the dark continent from 1876 to 1912. Abacus.
Strachan, H. (2001). The First World War: To arms. Oxford
University Press.