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When Sultan Hamed bin Thuwain died in 1896, his cousin Khaled declared himself new Sultan of Zanzibar. Zanzibar was a British protectorate at the time and Britain didn't like it when Khaled made the announcement. They ordered him to lower his flag by 9 am on August 27, 1896. He obviously didn't do it so the British opened fire on Stone Town and destroyed the Palace, the Harem and the Sultan's ship. 38 minutes later, the war was over and Seyyid Hamoud bin Mohammed was declared the new Sultan. Zanzibar gained its independence in 1963 and is now part of Tanzania. |
