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
Kabylia Ethnic group: Kabyle Berbers Proposed state: Kabylia. Government-in-exile: Kabyle Provisional Government (ANAVAD AQVAYLI UΣḌIL). Movement leader: Ferhat Mehenni. Political party: Movement for the self-determination of Kabylie (MAK). Kabylia is a charter member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
Kabylia is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States
Angola
Central-Eastern Angola Ethnic group: Lunda-Tchokwé people Proposed state or autonomous region: Democratic Republic of Lunda-Tchokwé Government-in-exile: Partido Democrático da Defesa do Estado Lunda-Tchokwé, Political party: Partido Democrático da Defesa do Estado Lunda-Tchokwé Advocacy groups: Mulher Unida da Lunda-Tchokwé, Pioneiros Unidos da Lunda-Tchokwé, Juventude Unida da Lunda-Tchokwé, Manifesto Jurídico Sociológico do Povo Lunda-Tchokwé
Cabinda Ethnic group: Bakongo Proposed state: Republic of Cabinda 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
Zaire Province and Uíge Province Ethnic group: Kongo people Proposed: restoration of the Kongo Kingdom within Angola Movement: Movement of Sovereigns and Scholars
Botswana
Ngamiland 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
North-West District Ethnic group: San people Proposed: autonomy for the San people
Kgatleng District Ethnic group: Bakgatla people Proposed: full restoration of the Bakgatla Reserve as an autonomous region or independence
North-East District Ethnic group: Kalanga people Proposed: establishment of a reserve in the North-East District for the Kalanga people
Cameroon
Ethnic group: Anglophones of the former Southern Cameroons, consisting of over 80 ethnic groups Population: ~4 million people Proposed state: Federal Republic of Ambazonia Advocacy group: Interim Government of Ambazonia, Ambazonia Governing Council and others Militant groups: Ambazonia Self-Defence Council, Ambazonia Defence Forces, SOCADEF, other smaller militias Status: Ongoing civil war is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States
Bakassi People: Oron Population: 150,000–300,000 people (subject of dispute) Proposed state: Democratic Republic of Bakassi Militant organization: Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination
Kanuri people Ethnic group: Kanuri people Proposed state: Kanowra (also includes parts of Chad, Nigeria and Niger)
Cape Verde
São Vicente Proposed: autonomy for São Vicente Political party: Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union
Central African Republic
Dar El Kuti (Republic of Logone) Ethnic group: Muslims in the Central African Republic Proposed state: Dar al-Kuti Advocacy group and militant organization: Séléka 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.
Azande in the central African Republic Ethnic group: Azande people Proposed: self determination for the Azande people
Chad
Tibesti, Borkou and Ennedi Ouest Ethnic group: Toubou people Proposed: autonomy for the Toubou in Chad Militant organization: Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad
Republic of Congo
Southern Departments 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 is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States Status: Ongoing insurgency
Kivu Ethnic group: Bashi people Proposed state: Republic of Kivu Militant organization: Congo River Alliance
Great Lakes Twa Ethnic group: Great Lakes Twa Proposed: autonomy of the Great Lakes Twa
Kasaï region Ethnic group: Luba people Proposed: independence for the Kasaï region
Équateur 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 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)
Southern Red Sea Region Ethnic group: Afar people, Saho people Proposed autonomous area: Dankalia or unification with Advocacy groups: Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation, Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama, Saho People's Democratic Movement
Equatorial Guinea
Bioko Ethnic group: Bubi Proposed state: Bioko Island Advocacy group: Movement for the Self-Determination of Bioko Island
Annobón Ethnic group: Portuguese Africans Proposed state: Republic of Annobón Advocacy group: Free Annobón
Ethiopia
ethnic group: Amhara people proposed: self determination and/or autonomy for political party: National Movement of Amhara status: Ongoing
ethnic group: Afar people proposed: independence for the political party: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
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Proposed state: Ogadenia (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) or unification with 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, Oromo Federalist Congress Militant organizations: Oromo Liberation Army
Tigray
Proposed state or autonomous area: Tigray Political party: Tigray Independence Party 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
Réunion 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 Réunion
Mayotte continues to have autonomist and separatist movements despite the island having voted to become France's 101st department in 2011.
Gabon
Ogooué-Lolo Province and Haut-Ogooué Ethnic group: Mbama people Proposed autonomous region: Haut-Ogooue-Lolo
Ghana
Western Togoland Proposed state: Western Togoland Militant organizations: Western Togoland Restoration Front (member of UNPO)
Greater Accra Region Ethnic group: Ga-Adangbe Proposed: greater autonomy for Greater Accra Region
Savannah Region Ethnic group: Dega people Proposed: autonomy for the Dega people in the Savannah Region
Kenya Mombasa Proposed state: Coast Province, Mombasa Republic Political party: Mombasa Republican Council Status: Active is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States Rift Valley, Western Province, Nyanza Proposed State or autonomous region: People's Republic of Kenya Political Party: Azimio la Umoja
North Eastern Province Ethnic group: Somali people Proposed: independence or unification with
Ivory Coast
Southwestern and southern-central regions of the Ivory Coast Ethnic group: Bété people Proposed state: Ebournie
Liberia
Grand Cape Mount County Ethnic group: Muslims in Liberia Proposed: independence for the Muslims in Liberia
Libya
Cyrenaica Ethnic group: Arabs Proposed autonomous region or state: Cyrenaica Political party: Cyrenaica Transitional Council
Ethnic group: Toubou people, Arabs, Tuaregs and Berbers Proposed: greater autonomy for
Amazighs in Libya Ethnic group: Amazighs Proposed: autonomy for the Amazighs in Libya Advocacy group: Amazigh Supreme Council
Malawi Nyika Proposed state: Northern Nyika Republic Political party: The Peoples Party
Mzimba District Ethnic group: Ngoni people Proposed autonomous area: Ngoni Kingdom
Southern Region Ethnic group: Lomwe people Proposed state: United States of Thyolo and Mulanje Political party: People's Land Organisation
Mali
Ethnic group: Tuareg Proposed state or autonomous area: Political party: Coordination of Azawad Movements, which includes MNLA Militant organisations: National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States
Massina Ethnic group: Fula Proposed state: Massina Empire Militant organizations: Katiba Macina
Kayes Region Ethnic group: Khassonké people Proposed state: Kayes
Mauritania
Northern Mauritania (unspecified) Proposed: independence for Northern Mauritania
Eastern Mauritania (Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Tagant and Assaba) Proposed: unification with ("اتْمولي"), secession (supposed as of March 11, 2008) or autonomy (as of August 29, 2014 - Samba Thiam) South(eastern?) Mauritania (unspecified, could be the same as Eastern Mauritania) Ethnic group: Haratin(e) Proposed: independence for a state for Black Mauritanians in the south (as of August 29, 2014 - Samba Thiam)
Mauritius
Rodrigues Ethnic group: Rodriguan Proposed greater autonomous area or state: Rodrigues Political party: Rodrigues People's Organisation
Agaléga 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 Started in Morocco during the 1920s, and was revitalized in 2013. The Rif Independence Movement is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States.\
Mozambique
North and Central Mozambique Ethnic group: Makua people and more Proposed autonomous region: Rombesia
Namibia
Caprivi Strip
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