African Business Chronicles

Chapter 59 – The Zanzibar Palace Coup

January 23, 1867.

Zanzibar Sultanate, Dar es Salaam Port Garrison.

Baghash bin Said is plotting the overthrow of the Zanzibar Sultan's regime with his confidants.

"Abdullah, how many people can you gather?" Baghash bin Said asked one of his men.

"Your Highness, I originally controlled over eighty men in the army, and with a few officers we've placed in key positions, that amounts to about three hundred soldiers in total."

"Excellent. I have eight hundred men, so combined we have twelve hundred. That's a full third of the kingdom's army," Baghash bin Said analyzed.

"And Majid, that fool, has no clue what we're up to—he's still squandering away in the palace. If we strike suddenly, we can wipe out his loyalists. Then Zanzibar will be ours." Baghash bin Said said excitedly.

His loyal officers and advisers were equally thrilled—this time it appeared highly likely they would succeed, and, if they did, they would each gain high positions in Zanzibar.

"Only you, Your Highness, can bring a bright future to Zanzibar. We're all willing to follow your lead," one advisor declared, seizing the moment to flatter him.

"Yes, Your Highness, please give us our orders! It's time we changed this backward nation!" other officers and advisers echoed.

Baghash bin Said was pleased by their fervor and praise. Power was indeed intoxicating. Though claiming to champion reform, he also enjoyed the feeling of authority and others' admiration.

He turned to the table and began giving instructions.

"This here is the royal palace of Zanzibar. The guards total about one hundred twenty, but they're scattered throughout the palace and can't mobilize quickly. We'll send men to secure the palace in a short window. I'll personally lead troops to capture Majid, and once we seize him, the palace guard—leaderless—will surrender," Baghash bin Said said, pointing to the palace on a map.

"That's our first plan: if we eliminate Majid, effectively no one will oppose us. But to be safe, we need five hundred men focused on action inside the palace. Abdullah, you've been in the army long enough to know its layout, so you'll go disarm the soldiers outside the city, while I lead men directly to Majid's chambers to control him."

He went on, "The second group will be led by you, Abdullah, to seize the garrison outside Dar es Salaam. Soldiers typically rise at eight in the morning. By that time, their weapons are still in the armory racks. If we move in at around dawn, say five, while they're still asleep, we can seize the firearms and force them to surrender."

"We'll begin at five o'clock tomorrow. The palace guards will be relaxed, and our troops will break into the palace before sunrise. We must gather at three o'clock. Once we control the palace and the army, victory is ours. Then we can assemble the rest of the army, deal with Majid's lackeys, and expel the German presence in Dar es Salaam Port and Tanga—an outright success."

"Now, each of you—take your group assignments. Tomorrow morning, we strike…"

…

While Baghash bin Said was giving orders, what was Sultan Majid bin Said doing? He had no clue about this conspiracy. In his later years, Majid bin Said had succumbed to pure indulgence and drug use. Historically, he passed away around this time, his death likely related to overuse of certain "stimulants."

Early the Next Morning at the Royal Palace of Zanzibar

Dawn was just breaking; the palace guards, lax as always, stood at the gates. Suddenly, Baghash bin Said, leading a few followers, approached.

The guards recognized the Sultan's younger brother, Baghash bin Said, believing he had business with Majid, as usual. But as soon as they got close, two men behind Baghash pulled out revolvers from their sleeves, pressing them against the guards' chests.

"Don't move, or you're dead!" they shouted.

Then Baghash bin Said signaled, and a squad of men emerged from some hidden corner. Baghash led a team straight toward Majid's private chambers while the rest subdued the palace guards and servants.

Majid, still in bed with his consort, was startled by the sudden entry of a maid:

"Your Majesty, it's terrible! Prince Baghash has rushed in with troops!"

Only half awake, Majid prepared to scold her when Baghash bin Said stormed into the room with his men.

"What are you doing, Baghash? Is this rebellion?" Majid snapped.

Baghash bin Said sneered, "Dear brother, haven't you realized the situation? Indeed, it's a coup!"

"You… you… sigh!"

Blinking in confusion, Majid let out a long sigh, saying nothing more. By now, words wouldn't help him.

…

As Baghash secured Majid, Abdullah seized the barracks. The entire coup went off smoothly with hardly any resistance. By eight, ministers arrived as usual and found Baghash bin Said seated in the Sultan's place.

"Gentlemen, His Majesty has aged and fallen ill, so he's entrusted the kingdom's affairs to me," Baghash bin Said said with a faint smile.

Faced with armed guards, Majid's ministers—much like their idle monarch—immediately pledged loyalty to Baghash bin Said.

Meanwhile, at the Dar es Salaam Port Office of the East African Colony

Port official Basil noticed the unusual activity in Zanzibar: squads of soldiers were hurrying through the streets. Normally, Sultanate soldiers did not enter the city in large numbers; Majid's personal guard was small, well-drilled, clad in matching Arab dress, marching unhurriedly.

Yet today, these squads looked nothing like the palace guard, seemed disorganized, and obviously ready for combat. Alarmed, Basil summoned his assistant, Düler:

"Go to our border units. Report to the colony that Zanzibar is showing abnormal movements—looks like a coup. Tell them to be on guard for any Zanzibar trouble."

Düler nodded and prepared to depart when Basil stopped him:

"Better change into Arab attire first—don't head out in uniform."

So Düler disguised himself as an Arab merchant, mounted a horse, and rode out from the back door of the East African colony's Dar es Salaam office.

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