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The 'German East Africa Company' (German: '''Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft''') was an organisation founded by Karl Peters (with imperial backing from Otto von Bismarck) on April 2, 1885, to govern German East Africa (modern Tanzania). The Company established the colony's first capital city at Bagamoyo, but soon moved the capital to Dar es Salaam.
In 1888, the Company absorbed the bankrupt German Witu Society, which had been created to trade in the German protectorate of Wituland only a year and a half before.
In April 1888 the Company leased the coastal strip opposite Zanzibar from Sultan Khalifa bin Said for 50 years. Its attempt to take over the administration led to a general revolt along the coast of what is now Tanzania. The company could only hold to Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo with the help of the German navy. 1889 it had to request the assistance of the German government to put down the rebellion.
In 1891, after it became apparent that the Company could not handle its dominiums, it sold out to the German government which began to rule German East Africa directly, thus rendering the Company to running some plantations and trade business.