End of Colonization

The Tanganyika region slowly became more and more independent following World War II. First, the “British government’s [decided] to place Tanganyika under United Nations trusteeship (1947).1 This assigned Britain to assist with political development. The Tanganyika African Association (TAA) elected its first president in 1953, and soon the association became the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) which sought “self-government and independence.”2 TANU, with the help of political allies and supporters helped secure Tanganyika’s independence on Dec. 9 1961, with Julius Nyerere, the initial president of TAA, as its prime minister.3 Almost immediately, Nyerere was replaced by Rashidi Kawawa, choosing instead to focus on broader goals for African unity. The independent Tanganyika became a one-party, republican state in 1962.4 The first threat to the new administration came in 1964, in the form of an army mutiny, and “the president reluctantly sought the assistance of British marines” to suppress it.5 Nyerere served as president for several terms.

Zanzibar became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1963. A republic was declared the following year, after the government was “overthrown by an internal revolution…carried out by 600 armed men.”6 African support of the riot was widespread, as it directly attacked Arabs in Zanzibar. Soon a president, prime minister, and minister for defense and external affairs were established for the People’s Republic of Zanzibar. Policies such as “nationalization of all land” were instituted, and Zanzibar became a single-party state.7

With the strong relationship that had developed over the years, the two regions merged to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Though they were united, and the republic was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania the same year, “Zanzibar continued to pursue its own policies” for many years.8



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1. Tanzania." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 02 Mar. 2010 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/582817/Tanzania

2. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

3.“Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

4. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

5. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

6. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

7. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

8. “Tanzania.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.