Surviving Zanzibar

How long could Zanzibar survive as an Arab controlled state

Would Tanzania at some point invade

how many Indians could they take that were expelled from east Africa
 
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CaliGuy

Banned
How long could Zanzibar survive as an Arab controlled state

Would Tanzania at some point invade
Well, this raises an interesting question--does Zanbizar successfully get some Gulf Arab state(s) to be its patron(s) in this TL?
 
Well, this raises an interesting question--does Zanbizar successfully get some Gulf Arab state(s) to be its patron(s) in this TL?
I'm not sure how powerful they were in the 60s and 70s but at some point They would likely get gulf state patrons at somepoint
 

CaliGuy

Banned
I'm not sure how powerful they were in the 60s and 70s but at some point They would likely get gulf state patrons at somepoint
In such a case, their military could become significantly stronger and more powerful, no?
 
Looking at it only vaguely as separate from a surviving German East Africa (Tanganyika), I think it holds a stronger independent tone, especially if German becomes more spoken ashore and Zanzibar gets a little better investment to counter the German presence. I could see its airport getting developed as a link from Cairo to Johannesburg at least until longer ranged aircraft sort of sideline its importance. At best it develops a better place in British imperial networks connecting Africa and the Indian Ocean, maybe a banking presence, or at least a tax haven? Best case is the development of a RN base and airfield, maybe as the Eastern version of Simonstown in SA? Once colonialism ends I see Zanzibar reconnecting to the mainland but likely staying independent. It would likely still be rather poor unless something changes its trajectory. Could it become a bit like Gibraltar or would it have a fate like Malta?
 
Well, this raises an interesting question--does Zanbizar successfully get some Gulf Arab state(s) to be its patron(s) in this TL?

They'd best get Britain instead to be its patron. Basically a network network with East Africa, the Gulf, and India proper, which is Zanzibar's traditional role brought to the modern era.

If Britain has more of an interest--or for that matter, the United States if it can be framed as "let's stop communism in Africa"--then Tanzania (which would be called Tanganyika TTL since Zanzibar is not officially a part, unless it plays host to a government-in-exile for Zanzibar) can do absolutely nothing against them.

It'll make a decent tax haven, transportation hub, etc., plus there is offshore oil and perhaps tourism opportunities too. It'll be far wealthier than today, though probably not as much so as Singapore, even assuming it gets a Lee Kuan Yew sort of leader. Which Zanzibar absolutely needs once John Okello and the Afro-Shirazi Party coup is defeated. Sideline the Sultan of Zanzibar too while you're at it. Zanzibar would almost certainly be taking in many Indians who were either expelled or otherwise chose to leave from East Africa, at least assuming we have people like Idi Amin in power.

Overall there's a high possibility for Zanzibar to have the highest GDP per capita in Africa and be the most developed nation on the continent, although like Singapore, a high level of inequality is guaranteed.
 
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