Top 10 Most Notorious Gangs and Militia Groups in Africa

1. Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – Uganda, South Sudan, CAR, DRC

Leader: Joseph Kony
Founded: Late 1980s
Ideology: Christian mysticism, anti-government
Known For: Child soldier recruitment, massacres, mass abductions

The LRA is perhaps Africa’s most infamous insurgent group. Founded by the messianic warlord Joseph Kony, the group sought to overthrow Uganda’s government and install a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments. The LRA is notorious for abducting tens of thousands of children, forcing them to become soldiers or sex slaves. Though weakened in recent years, it remains active in parts of Central Africa.

2. Boko Haram – Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad

Leader: Originally Mohammed Yusuf; later Abubakar Shekau
Founded: 2002
Ideology: Salafist jihadism
Known For: Mass killings, suicide bombings, kidnapping schoolgirls

Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden,” aims to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria. It gained international infamy after kidnapping 276 schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014. The group has displaced over 2 million people and killed tens of thousands. A splinter faction, ISWAP, is aligned with the Islamic State and continues to wreak havoc in the Lake Chad region.

3. Mungiki – Kenya

Leader: Unknown (originally Maina Njenga)
Founded: Late 1980s–1990s
Ideology: Kikuyu nationalism, traditionalism, extortion
Known For: Beheadings, extortion, transport cartel control

Mungiki started as a religious and cultural group among the Kikuyu in Kenya, but evolved into a criminal organization and sectarian militia. Known for decapitating opponents and extorting public transport operators, Mungiki once infiltrated Kenya’s politics and security services. Although officially banned, remnants of the group still operate in Nairobi and central Kenya.

4. Al-Shabaab – Somalia, Kenya

Leader: Ahmed Umar (Abu Ubaidah)
Founded: 2006
Ideology: Salafi jihadism, al-Qaeda affiliate
Known For: Terror attacks, including Westgate Mall & Garissa University massacres

Al-Shabaab emerged from the Islamic Courts Union and grew into Somalia’s most powerful jihadist group. The group controls parts of southern and central Somalia, enforcing a strict version of Sharia law. Its terror campaigns have extended to neighboring Kenya, with high-profile attacks killing hundreds. It remains one of Africa’s deadliest insurgent groups.

5. Seleka & Anti-Balaka – Central African Republic

Leaders: Multiple warlords
Founded: 2012 (Seleka); 2013 (Anti-Balaka)
Ideology: Seleka – Muslim militia; Anti-Balaka – Christian vigilantes
Known For: Sectarian massacres, looting, rape, war crimes

The conflict in the Central African Republic took a deadly turn when the mostly Muslim Seleka coalition overthrew the government in 2013. In response, Anti-Balaka militias, largely Christian, formed to fight back. What followed was a cycle of revenge killings and ethnic cleansing, displacing over a million people. Despite international interventions, warlordism still plagues CAR.

6. Janjaweed / RSF (Rapid Support Forces) – Sudan and Darfur

Leader: Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”)
Founded: Early 2000s (as Janjaweed); transformed into RSF
Ideology: Pro-government paramilitary
Known For: Genocide, ethnic cleansing, rape, scorched-earth tactics

The Janjaweed militias gained notoriety during the Darfur conflict, where they were accused of genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups. Backed by the Sudanese government, they killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. They later morphed into the RSF, which played a major role in the 2023 Sudanese civil war, committing widespread atrocities.

7. Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – Uganda, DR Congo

Leader: Musa Baluku
Founded: 1996
Ideology: Islamist insurgency
Known For: Massacres, bombings, affiliation with Islamic State

Originally a Ugandan rebel group, the ADF relocated to eastern DRC, becoming one of the region’s most violent factions. Now linked to ISIS Central Africa, the ADF conducts brutal attacks on civilians, including decapitations, arson, and mass rapes. Despite Congolese and international efforts, they remain elusive and dangerous.

8. Mozambican Insurgents (Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaah / ISIS-Mozambique)

Leader: Abu Yasir Hassan (alleged)
Founded: 2017
Ideology: Islamist extremism
Known For: Beheadings, insurgency in Cabo Delgado, child soldier recruitment

In northern Mozambique, this Islamist insurgency has disrupted the Cabo Delgado province with terrifying violence. The group captured key towns like Mocímboa da Praia and has committed mass killings and beheadings. Affiliated with ISIS, they pose a growing threat in southeastern Africa, fueled by grievances over inequality and resource control.

9. 18 Gangster – South Africa

Leader: No central leadership
Founded: 1980s
Ideology: Criminal enterprise
Known For: Drug trafficking, prison control, assassinations

South Africa’s townships, especially in Cape Town, are plagued by deadly gangs like the 18 Gangster, 26s, and 28s. These groups control drug distribution, extortion, and smuggling, and have militarized some neighborhoods. Violence is rampant, with gang-related murders reaching epidemic levels, often surpassing political violence elsewhere on the continent.

10. Mai-Mai Militias – Democratic Republic of Congo

Leader: Numerous tribal warlords
Founded: 1990s
Ideology: Local ethnic defense, nationalism
Known For: Sexual violence, looting, child soldiering

The Mai-Mai are loosely organized militias originally formed to defend local communities from foreign invaders. Over time, they devolved into ethnic warbands committing horrific abuses — from rape as a weapon of war to cannibalism. Operating mostly in eastern Congo, these groups complicate peace efforts and exploit mineral-rich regions.

Honorable Mentions

• Camorra (Libya variant): Criminal network operating post-Gaddafi era
• Tuareg Militias (Mali): Initially separatist, now mixed with jihadist agendas
• Bakassi Boys (Nigeria): Vigilante group with alleged supernatural powers
• Sungu Sungu (Kenya – Kisii): Community policing group turned violent
• Imbonerakure (Burundi): Youth militia linked to ruling party repression

These gangs and militias are not just products of criminality

They are often born from socio-political neglect, state failure, ethnic marginalization, poverty, and ideological extremism. Many exploit youth unemployment, weak institutions, and resource wealth to maintain control.

Stopping them requires more than firepower. It demands inclusive governance, community engagement, education, and economic empowerment. Africa’s stability and future development hinge on tackling the root causes that allow such groups to thrive.

SUGGESTED READS

• The Rise, Evolution, and Impact of the Sungusungu Vigilantes in Kisii, Kenya
• Mungiki: The Rise, Fall, and Shadows of Kenya’s Most Feared Underground Movement
• The Dark Legacy of Okija Shrine: Nigeria’s Most Notorious Traditional
• The Blood Oath: Rise of the Bakassi Boys
• How Foday Sankoh Led Sierra Leone into Chaos: The Ruthless Rise of a Rebel