The Shortest War in History
The shortest war in history is known as the Anglo-Zanzibar War, which lasted for a mere 38 minutes. This conflict was fought between the United
Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar in East Africa on August 27, 1896.
Background
The war was precipitated by the death of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini of Zanzibar, who had been a British ally. Upon his death, the British demanded that his successor, Sultan Khalid bin Barghash, accept their demands, including the dismissal of certain members of the cabinet and the recognition of British control over the country’s foreign affairs. When Khalid refused, the British launched a naval bombardment of Zanzibar’s capital, Stone Town.
The Battle
The battle began at 9:02 am on August 27, 1896, when the British warships opened fire. The bombardment lasted for approximately 45 minutes, during which time the Zanzibari forces were able to fire back with a few rounds. However, they were quickly overwhelmed by the British and surrendered at 9:40 am.
Aftermath
The British victory was decisive, and the war was over in less than an hour. In the aftermath of the war, the British imposed a treaty on Zanzibar, which granted them control over the country’s foreign affairs and gave them the right to station a consular representative in the country. The treaty also provided for the payment of an indemnity to the British.
Keywords
Anglo-Zanzibar War, Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini, Sultan Khalid bin Barghash, Stone Town, 45 minutes, British victory, indemnity.