The coast of Eastern Africa was under the rule of Oman's Sultan in the starting of 19th century, Muscat being the capital city of the Arabian peninsula. It is divided in to numerous states including the Christian realm of Ethiopia, the animist kingdom of Buganda with several minor states. The Zulu Mfecane launched many new districts towards the south in the area that is at the present Tanzania plus Malawi, as Mehemet Ali's rebuilding directed to the extension of Egyptian management into the Upper Nile River.