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In Zanzibar, the 2010 electoral year seems to have opened a new political and social era. Thanks to the formation of a government of national unity, the islands managed to contain political tensions and put an end to the electoral violence observed since the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1992. This government adopted the principle of power-sharing between the two main political parties, the former single party, CCM, still in power, and the opposition party CUF. The general election of October 2010 was held in a peaceful and joyful atmosphere, despite concerns raised about electoral rigging of the voters’ register at the time of registration and vote irregularities during the ballot. Yet, the close results of the two main presidential candidates show that former political divisions still persist, merging party affiliations with different identity registers and alternative conceptions of national belonging. The role played by the United Republic of Tanzania in the islands’ political life is a key element for understanding why CCM remains in power. While the principle of power-sharing is the manifestation of a process of democratization expected by the international community in order to renew its development aid, it also helps CCM to remain in power while weakening the critical potential of the opposition.