Chapter 64: Politics in a Day
The 1,500-strong colonial military force, led by Commander Yarman, marched into Zanzibar to restore order.
In Dar es Salaam, Majid bin Saeed and his relatives were freed from the dungeon by colonial soldiers, allowing Majid to reclaim the throne of Zanzibar. However, they were not allowed to leave the palace grounds. The Zanzibar army was disbanded, officers were detained, and soldiers were sent home while their weapons were confiscated. Male servants were expelled from the court to prevent any subversion attempts.
Felix took charge of maintaining law and order in Dar es Salaam, and Bazel returned to his post to welcome arriving immigrants. Bagash bin Said and his associates were imprisoned in the Zanzibar dungeon, with Majid bin Said ensuring that they received poor treatment for their betrayal.
The entire coup took place within a single day, making it one of the fastest political turnovers in history. It became known as "one-day politics" or "Zanzibar Politics in a Day." The short-lived Bagash bin Said government lasted only eleven hours.
The East African colony's losses were minimal, with just a delay in one immigrant convoy and a few casualties among their troops due to the lack of heavy weaponry. Zanzibar had a numerical advantage but lacked modern weapons.
Despite being a maritime military power around the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar's navy did not participate in the battle. The Sultanate of Zanzibar's control over its navy was limited, and the focus had shifted to the mainland over the years.
The coup's rapid success was also due to Zanzibar's thinking inertia, as they had not perceived the Germans as a genuine threat and had continued to indulge in extravagance.
On the third day, Yarman and his forces reached Dar es Salaam, receiving the news of victory on the way. Felix and Yarman discussed the casualties, with Felix admitting that he had underestimated the Zanzibar army's ineffectiveness.
Yarman reminded Felix not to be overly concerned about individual losses in war and to focus on the bigger picture. He emphasized the importance of soldiers who can handle setbacks and responsibilities.
Yarman's arrival resolved the manpower issue in Dar es Salaam, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar fell under the temporary jurisdiction of the East African colony.
The colonial government informed Europe of their victory and awaited Ernst's response. Due to distance and communication limitations, Ernst received the information more than ten days later.
(End of Chapter 64)