List of active separatist movements in Africa
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This is a list of currently active separatist movements in Africa. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism.
Criteria
What is and is not considered an autonomist or secessionist movement is sometimes contentious. Entries on this list must meet three criteria:
- They are active movements with active members.
- They are seeking greater autonomy or self-determination for a geographic region (as opposed to personal autonomy).
- They are citizens/people of the conflict area and do not come from another country.
Under each region listed is one or more of the following:
- De facto state (de facto entity): for unrecognized regions with de facto autonomy.
- Proposed state: proposed name for a seceding sovereign state.
- Proposed autonomous area: for movements towards greater autonomy for an area but not outright secession.
- De facto autonomous government: for governments with de facto autonomous control over a region.
- Government-in-exile: for a government based outside of the region in question, with or without control.
- Political party (or parties): for political parties involved in a political system to push for autonomy or secession.
- Militant organisation(s): for armed organisations.
- Advocacy group(s): for non-belligerent, non-politically participatory entities.
- Ethnic/ethno-religious/racial/regional/religious group(s).
Algeria
- Ethnic group: Kabyle Berbers[1]
- Proposed state: Kabylia.
- Government-in-exile: Kabyle Provisional Government (ANAVAD AQVAYLI UΣḌIL).[2]
- Movement leader: Ferhat Mehenni.[3]
- Political party: Movement for the self-determination of Kabylie (MAK).[4][5]
Kabylia is a charter member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)[6]
Kabylia is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[7]
Angola
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Central-Eastern Angola
- Ethnic group: Lunda-Tchokwé people
- Proposed state or autonomous region: Democratic Republic of Lunda-Tchokwé[8][9]
- Government-in-exile: Partido Democrático da Defesa do Estado Lunda-Tchokwé,[10][11]
- Political party: Partido Democrático da Defesa do Estado Lunda-Tchokwé[12]
- Advocacy groups: Mulher Unida da Lunda-Tchokwé, Pioneiros Unidos da Lunda-Tchokwé, Juventude Unida da Lunda-Tchokwé, Manifesto Jurídico Sociológico do Povo Lunda-Tchokwé[13]
- Ethnic group: Bakongo
- Proposed state: Republic of Cabinda[15][16]
- Government-in-exile: Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda (FLEC) (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)
- Political party: Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda (FLEC),
Liberation Front of the State of Cabinda - Militant organization: Forças Armadas de Cabinda (FAC)
- Status: Ongoing low-intensity war
Cabinda is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
Zaire Province and Uíge Province[17]
- Ethnic group: Kongo people
- Proposed: restoration of the Kongo Kingdom within Angola
- Movement: Movement of Sovereigns and Scholars[citation needed]
Botswana
- Ethnic group: Masubia, Nzanza, Mbowe, Makalahari, MaYeyi, Mampukushu, Makwengari, Mambunda, Matotela, Batoka, Mafwe, Barotse, Leya, Nanzwa, Lujana, Dombe
- Advocacy group: Movement for the Survival of the River Races of Zambesia
- Proposed state:
Zambesia[18][19][20]
- Ethnic group: San people
- Proposed: autonomy for the San people
- Ethnic group: Bakgatla people
- Proposed: full restoration of the Bakgatla Reserve as an autonomous region or independence[24]
- Ethnic group: Kalanga people
- Proposed: establishment of a reserve in the North-East District for the Kalanga people
Cameroon
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- Ethnic group: Anglophones of the former Southern Cameroons, consisting of over 80 ethnic groups
- Population: ~4 million people
- Proposed state: Federal Republic of Ambazonia[29][30]
- Advocacy group: Interim Government of Ambazonia, Ambazonia Governing Council and others[31]
- Militant groups: Ambazonia Self-Defence Council, Ambazonia Defence Forces, SOCADEF, other smaller militias
- Status: Ongoing civil war
Ambazonia is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
- People: Oron
- Population: 150,000–300,000 people (subject of dispute)
- Proposed state: Democratic Republic of Bakassi[32]
- Militant organization: Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination
- Ethnic group: Kanuri people
Cape Verde
- Proposed: autonomy for São Vicente
- Political party: Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union[36]
Central African Republic
Territories under control of FPRC around 2024
Dar El Kuti (Republic of Logone)
- Ethnic group: Muslims in the Central African Republic
- Proposed state: Dar al-Kuti[37]
- Advocacy group and militant organization: Séléka[38]
- Status: Ongoing civil war, effectively a proto-state
Dar El Kuti is a self-proclaimed state supported by the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC), a Muslim rebel movement in the Central African Republic.[39]
Azande in the central African Republic[40]
- Ethnic group: Azande people
- Proposed: self determination for the Azande people
Chad
Tibesti, Borkou and Ennedi Ouest[41]
- Ethnic group: Toubou people[42]
- Proposed: autonomy for the Toubou in Chad[41]
- Militant organization: Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad
Republic of Congo
- Ethnic group: Kongo people
- Proposed state: South Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Political parties: Union of Independent Federalists and Republicans
- Militant organizations: Mai Mai Kata Katanga
Katanga is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States
- Ethnic group: Bashi people
- Proposed state:
Republic of Kivu[45] - Militant organization:
Congo River Alliance[46]
- Proposed state:
- Ethnic group: Great Lakes Twa
- Proposed: autonomy of the Great Lakes Twa
- Ethnic group: Luba people
- Proposed: independence for the Kasaï region
- Ethnic group: Mongo people
- Proposed: independence for Équateur
Djibouti
Obock Region and Tadjourah Region
- Ethnic group:
Afar people
- Proposed: autonomy for Afar people in Djibouti[50][51]
- Political party: Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Eritrea
Eritrean highlands and the Tigray Region
- Ethnic group: Tigrinya people
- Proposed independent state:
Agazian state - Advocacy groups:
Agazian Movement, Tigray People's Liberation Front (alleged)[52][53]
- Proposed independent state:
- Ethnic group: Afar people, Saho people
- Proposed autonomous area:
Dankalia or unification with 
Ethiopia - Advocacy groups: Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation,
Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama, 
Saho People's Democratic Movement[54][55][56][57]
- Proposed autonomous area:
Equatorial Guinea
- Ethnic group: Bubi
- Proposed state: Bioko Island
- Advocacy group: Movement for the Self-Determination of Bioko Island
- Ethnic group: Portuguese Africans
- Proposed state: Republic of Annobón[60]
- Advocacy group:
Free Annobón[61][62]
Ethiopia
- ethnic group: Amhara people
- proposed: self determination and/or autonomy for
Amhara - political party: National Movement of Amhara
- status: Ongoing
- proposed: self determination and/or autonomy for
- ethnic group: Afar people
- proposed: independence for the
Afar Region - political party: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
- proposed: independence for the
- Proposed state: Ogadenia (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) or unification with
Somalia
- Political party: Ogaden National Liberation Front
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Oromia (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)
- Political party: Oromo Liberation Front,[67] Oromo Federalist Congress
- Militant organizations: Oromo Liberation Army[68][69]
- Political party:
- Proposed state or autonomous area: Tigray[70]
- Political party: Tigray Independence Party[71] Tigray People's Liberation Front, Arena Tigray For Democracy and Sovereignty, National Congress of Great Tigray, Salsay Weyane Tigray (Regionalist)
- Militant organizations:
Tigray Defense Forces
France
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- Political party:
Lorganizasion Popilèr po Libèr nout Péi (Lplp) – Popular Front for National Liberation: composed of Nasion Rénioné, Mar, Drapo rouz, Patriot rénioné and Mir. - Political party: Communist Party of Réunion
- Proposed state:
Republic of Zabon[citation needed]
- Political party:
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Mayotte continues to have autonomist and separatist movements despite the island having voted to become France's 101st department in 2011.[72]
Gabon
Ogooué-Lolo Province and Haut-Ogooué[73]
- Ethnic group: Mbama people
- Proposed autonomous region: Haut-Ogooue-Lolo
Ghana
- Proposed state: Western Togoland
- Militant organizations: Western Togoland Restoration Front (member of UNPO)
- Proposed state: Western Togoland
- Ethnic group: Ga-Adangbe
- Proposed: greater autonomy for Greater Accra Region
- Ethnic group: Dega people
- Proposed: autonomy for the Dega people in the Savannah Region
Kenya
- Proposed state: Coast Province, Mombasa Republic
- Political party: Mombasa Republican Council[77][78]
- Status: Active[79]
Mombasa Republic is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
Rift Valley, Western Province, Nyanza
- Proposed State or autonomous region: People's Republic of Kenya
- Political Party:
Azimio la Umoja[80][81][82][83]
- Political Party:
- Ethnic group: Somali people
- Proposed: independence or unification with Somalia
- Proposed: independence or unification with
Ivory Coast
Southwestern and southern-central regions of the Ivory Coast[85]
- Ethnic group: Bété people
- Proposed state: Ebournie
Liberia
- Ethnic group: Muslims in Liberia
- Proposed: independence for the Muslims in Liberia
Libya
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- Ethnic group: Arabs
- Proposed autonomous region or state:
Cyrenaica - Political party: Cyrenaica Transitional Council
- Proposed autonomous region or state:
- Ethnic group: Toubou people, Arabs, Tuaregs and Berbers
- Proposed: greater autonomy for
Fezzan
- Proposed: greater autonomy for
Malawi
Nyika
- Ethnic group: Ngoni people
- Proposed autonomous area: Ngoni Kingdom
- Ethnic group: Lomwe people
- Proposed state: United States of Thyolo and Mulanje
- Political party: People's Land Organisation
Mali
Dark grey dots indicate regions with a Tuareg majority.
- Ethnic group: Tuareg
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Azawad - Political party: Coordination of Azawad Movements, which includes MNLA
- Militant organisations: National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad
- Azawad is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
- Ethnic group: Fula
- Proposed state: Massina Empire
- Militant organizations: Katiba Macina[98][99][100]
- Ethnic group: Khassonké people
- Proposed state: Kayes
Mauritania
Mauritius
- Ethnic group: Rodriguan
- Proposed greater autonomous area or state:
Rodrigues - Political party: Rodrigues People's Organisation[104][105]
- Proposed greater autonomous area or state:
- Ethnic group: Agaléga islanders
- Proposed autonomous region: Agaléga
- Advocacy group: Les Amis d’Agaléga
Morocco
- Ethnic group: Riffian Berbers
- Proposed state: Republic of the Rif
- Political organization: Riffian National Party[107][108][109]
Started in Morocco during the 1920s,[110][111] and was revitalized in 2013.[112] The Rif Independence Movement is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States.[112]
- Ethnic group: Shilha people
- Proposed: Autonomy for the Shilha people in the Souss-Massa
Mozambique
North and Central Mozambique[114]
- Ethnic group: Makua people and more
- Proposed autonomous region: Rombesia
Namibia
- Ethnic group: Masubia, Nzanza, Mbowe, Makalahari, MaYeyi, Mampukushu, Makwengari, Mambunda, Matotela, Batoka, Mafwe, Barotse, Leya, Nanzwa, Lujana, Dombe
- Advocacy group: Movement for the Survival of the River Races of Zambesia
- Militant organization:
Caprivi Liberation Army[115] - Political party: Caprivi National African Union,
United Democratic Party - Proposed state:
Zambesia[18][19] or Caprivi Strip[116] or 
Barotseland
- Ethnic group: Baster
- Proposed autonomous area:
Rehoboth area[117] - Political party: The United People's Movement (UPM)[118] Rehoboth Basters (Member of the UNPO)[119]
- Proposed autonomous area:
- Ethnic group: Juǀʼhoansi people
- Proposed: autonomy for the Juǀʼhoansi people in Tsumkwe Constituency
Niger
- Ethnic group: Tuareg people
- Proposed: independence for Agadez Region
- Militant organizations: Patriotic Liberation Front (in an alliance with the CSP-DPA)[122]
Nigeria
- Ethnic group: Igbo, Anioma, Igede, Igala, Idoma, Ijaw, Kalabari, Ibibio, and Ogoni.
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Republic of Biafra (defunct) - Separatist movements: The Indigenous People of Biafra, Biafra Zionist Movement, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
- Militant organization: Eastern Security Network
- Government in exile: Biafran Government in exile[123]
- Biafra is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Republic of Oduduwa
- Ethnic group:
Yorùbá ethnic groups in Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Òkun in Kogi states in Nigeria, Itsekiris in Delta state and Akoko in Edo state.
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Republic of Oduduwa - Member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization[124]
- Civic organizations: Ilana Omo Oodua, Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination(NINAS)
- Movement leaders: Professor Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, Sunday Igboho
- O'odua Grand Alliance for Independence & Oodua People's Congress Ogafi.org [125]
- Status: Constitutional Force Majeure
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
- Ethnic group: Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Ukwuani, Edo, Esan, Ogoni, Kalabari and many more.
- Proposed: Autonomous regionalism:
Niger Delta Republic[127] was declared in February 1965 by Isaac Adaka Boro,[128] but failed to be established and remains an inspiration if not an aspiration.[129] - Movement: Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) formed in 2006 for the self-determination of the people of the Niger Delta[130]
- Militant groups: Niger Delta Avengers,[131] Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF),
- Status: Ongoing war
- Proposed: Autonomous regionalism:
- Ethnic group: Hausa people, Kanuri people
- Proposed State or Autonomous Area:
Arewa Republic - Political organisations Arewa Consultative Forum
- Proposed State or Autonomous Area:
- Ethnic group: Ogoni people
- Proposed autonomous region:
Ogoniland[133] - Advocacy group: Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
- Proposed autonomous region:
- ethnic group: Edo people, Yoruba People, Igbo people
- proposed: re establishment of the
Kingdom of Benin - political party: United Kingdom of Great Benin[134]
- proposed: re establishment of the
- Ethnic group: over 250 ethnic groups
- Proposed: autonomy for the Middle Belt
- Advocacy group: Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organizations
- Ethnic group: Adara people
- Proposed: creation of a Southern Kaduna state within Nigeria
- Advocacy group: Southern Kaduna People's Union
- Ethnic group: Tiv people
- Proposed state:
Republic Of Takuruku
- Proposed state:
- Ethnic group: Mumuye people and more
- Proposed state: Adamawa State
- Ethnic group: Efik people
- Proposed: independence for Efik people
Portugal
- Ethnic group: Madeiran
- Proposed: Greater autonomy for
Madeira - Political party: Together for the People
- Proposed: Greater autonomy for
São Tomé and Príncipe
- Ethnic group: Príncipese people
- Proposed: greater autonomy for Príncipe
Senegal
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- Ethnic group: Diola
- Proposed state:
Republic of Casamance - Militant organization: Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance[142]
- Proposed state:
- Ethnic group: Wolof people
Somalia
- Ethnic group: Somali, primarily the Isaaq clan.[144]
- De facto state:
Somaliland - Political organisations: Government of Somaliland
- Militant organisation: Somaliland Armed Forces
- De facto state:
Somaliland
- Ethnic group: Somali, primarily the Gadabuursi subclan within the Dir clan.
- Proposed: autonomy of
Awdalland - Political party: Awdal State Movement
- Proposed: autonomy of
- Awdalland is claimed and governed by Somaliland, but calls for increased autonomy exist within Awdal. Some in Awdal aspire to become a federal state within Somalia independent of Somaliland, while others in Awdal wish to join neighboring
Djibouti.
Khatumo North Eastern State of Somalia (previously also known as SSC)[147][148]
- Ethnic group: Somali, primarily the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli subclans of the Harti subclan within the Darod clan.
Khatumo is claimed by both Somaliland and 
Puntland, but it rejects the aforementioned claimants and self-governs as an autonomous state within Somalia's federal framework.
South Africa
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Cape Republic[149]
- Ethnic groups: Cape Coloureds, Afrikaners, Khoisan, Cape Malays, Bantu peoples of South Africa (Primarily Xhosa)
- Political parties: Freedom Front Plus[150] Referendum Party Cape Independence Party[151]
- Advocacy groups: CapeXit[152] Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG)[149]
- Proposed state or autonomous area:
Sovereign State of Good Hope[153]
- Ethnic groups: Cape Coloureds, Khoisan, Cape Malays, Griqua people
- Advocacy Groups:
Goringhaicona Khoikhoin Indigenous Traditional Council,[a][6] First Indigenous Nation of South Africa (FINSA) - Status: Unrecognized
- Ethnic group: Afrikaners
- Proposed state or autonomous area: Volkstaat[155]
- Political Party: Freedom Front Plus (in parliament and member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization).[156] Outside parliament: Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging, National Conservative Party of South Africa, Boerestaat Party Afrikaner Self-determination Party.
- Advocacy group: Orania Movement
- Movement: Boere-Vryheidsbeweging
- Status: Accord on Afrikaner self-determination
- Proposed State:
Orange Free State[157]
- Ethnic group: Afrikaners
- Advocacy group: Boervolk[158]
South Sudan
- Ethnic group: Nuer People
- Ethnic group: Azande people
- Proposed: independence for Azande people
- Ethnic group: Dinka people
- Proposed: self rule for Abyei
- Ethnic group: Azande people and more
Spain
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- Secessionist movement
- People: Canarians
- Proposed state:
Republic of the Canary Islands
- Political parties (autonomist): Coalición Canaria, Partido Nacionalista Canario, Centro Canario Nacionalista, Nueva Canarias
- Political parties (secessionist): FREPIC-AWAÑAK, Tanekra, Alternativa Nacionalista Canaria, Alternativa Popular Canaria, Unidad del Pueblo, National Congress of the Canaries
- Trade union: Intersindical Canaria
- Youth movement: Azarug
- Proposed state:
Canary Islands is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States[6]
- autonomist movements
Sudan
- Ethnic group: Fur, Arabs, Zaghawa, Masalit, Tama
- Proposed autonomous area: Darfur or proposed unification with Chad[168][169]
- Militant organization: Darfur Liberation Front
- Ethnic group: Beja
- Proposed autonomous area or state:
Beja state[170][171][169] - Political groups: Beja Congress[171]
- Proposed autonomous area or state:
- Ethnic group: Dinka people
- Proposed: self rule for Abyei
Northern State[172] and 
River Nile State
- Ethnic group: Arabs, Copts and Nubians
- Proposed: creation of an independent River and Sea state, or
Kush/Nubia, or unification with 
Egypt
- Proposed: creation of an independent River and Sea state, or
- Ethnic group: Nuba people
- Proposed state:
Democratic Republic of Kauda
- Proposed state:
- Ethnic group: Arabs
- Proposed: self rule for Gezira State[174]
- Ethnic group: Ingessana people
- Proposed: autonomy for the Blue Nile State
- Ethnic group: Arabs and Nuba peoples
- Proposed state: Kordofan
Tanzania
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- Ethnic group: Arabs, Shirazi
- Proposed state:
Zanzibar - Political party: Civic United Front (member of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization), Uamsho[177]
Democratic Party (Tanzania)
- Proposed state:
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- Ethnic group: Makonde people
- Proposed state: Mtwara
- Ethnic group: Shirazi people
- Proposed state: Pemba Island
Togo
- Ethnic group: Kabye people
- Proposed: independence for Est-Mono Prefecture
Tunisia
- Ethnic group: Jerba Berber
- Proposed autonomus area or state: Djerba
Uganda
- Proposed: autonomy within Uganda
- Ethnic group: Konjo people
- Proposed: greater autonomy for
Rwenzururu
- Proposed: greater autonomy for
- Ethnic group: Nkole people
- Ethnic group: Karamojong people
- Proposed: elevation of Karamoja to a region
- Ethnic group: Tooro people
- Proposed: elevation of Tooro Kingdom a region
United Kingdom
British Indian Ocean Territory
- Ethnic group: Chagossians
Yemen
- Ethnic group: Soqotri people
- Proposed: autonomy for Socotra
- Advocacy group: Socotra National Council
Zambia
- Ethnic group: Barotse
- Ethnic group: Tonga people
- Proposed state: Southern Province
Zimbabwe
- Ethnic group: Matabele
- Ethnic group: Shona people
- Proposed: autonomy for Manicaland Province