Account for the abolition of slave trade from East Africa.

The abolition of the slave trade in East Africa during the 19th century was influenced by several key factors:

• Humanitarian Efforts: European missionaries and humanitarians, particularly from Britain, played a significant role in advocating for the abolition of the slave trade. They highlighted the inhumane conditions and moral injustices associated with slavery, garnering support for abolition.
• British Influence: The British government exerted considerable pressure on local rulers and traders to end the slave trade. Treaties and agreements were signed with various East African leaders, including the Sultans of Zanzibar, to prohibit the trade. For example, Sultan Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar signed a treaty in 1873 to end the export of slaves by sea.
• Economic Changes: The decline in the profitability of the slave trade and the rise of legitimate trade in goods such as ivory, cloves, and other agricultural products made the continuation of the slave trade less economically viable. European powers promoted legitimate trade as an alternative to the slave trade.
• International Pressure: The global movement against slavery, including the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, created international pressure to end the slave trade in East Africa. Countries that had abolished slavery pushed for similar actions in other regions.
• Military Interventions: The British Royal Navy patrolled the Indian Ocean and intercepted slave ships, freeing the captives and disrupting the trade routes. These naval actions significantly reduced the number of slaves being transported.
• Local Resistance: Some local communities and leaders opposed the slave trade and supported its abolition. Their resistance and cooperation with abolitionist efforts contributed to the decline of the trade.
• Legal Reforms: Anti-slavery legislation was enacted in various East African territories. For instance, the Slave Trade Prohibition Decree of 1890 and the Abolition Decree of 1897 were significant legal steps taken by the Sultans of Zanzibar to end the trade.
• Colonial Expansion: The abolition of the slave trade was also linked to the broader process of European colonial expansion in East Africa. The end of the slave trade facilitated the establishment of colonial rule, which further suppressed the practice

These factors collectively led to the gradual abolition of the slave trade in East Africa, marking a significant shift in the region’s social and economic landscape.

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Dr. Bbosa Science