Leiden University Student Repository

Casarin, Nina May (2021)

The secessionist movement in Zanzibar: Historical roots and political motivations behind the Uamsho movement

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

“The maintenance of colonial borders after independence, discriminatory policies and lack of autonomy, are all factors that threaten minorities. Minorities’ cultures, traditions, religions, and languages are endangered within a state where the majority imposes cultural hegemony and implements domestic policies meant to oppress a minority. When its identity is threatened, a minority starts seeking self-determination. The sovereign state can recognize the issue and grant autonomy to the region that seeks for it, through federalism, or it can deny it, increasing the conflict. As a consequence, the last resort for the minority is secession. One example is the case of Zanzibar, the archipelago part of Tanzania. For years Zanzibari have been treated as a minority and as a consequence formed the secessionist movement Uamsho.”

secession

domestic policies

self-determination

autonomy

illegitimacy

Author

Casarin, Nina May

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Africa

Supervisors

Stathopoulos, A.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en