Zanzibar's independence

Zanzibar gained independence from British rule on December 10, 1963, becoming a separate sovereign state known as the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. This transition was part of the decolonization process after British control since the late 19th century. Soon after independence, Zanzibar faced internal political conflicts, leading to a revolution in January 1964, which overthrew the ruling Arab elite and established a socialist government. In 1964, Zanzibar merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Though independent briefly, Zanzibar retained a degree of self-governance, and today it functions as semi-autonomous part of Tanzania.