List of conflicts in Africa

This is a list of conflicts in Africa arranged by country, both on the continent and associated islands, including wars between African nations, civil wars, and wars involving non-African nations that took place within Africa. It encompasses colonial wars, wars of independence, secessionist and separatist conflicts, major episodes of national violence (riots, massacres, etc.), and global conflicts in which Africa was a theatre of war.

North Africa

Egypt

• 1803 — 07 Muhammad Ali's seizure of power
• 1881 — 99 Mahdist War
• June 11, 1940 — February 4, 1943: Western Desert Campaign, part of World War II
• October 29 — November 7, 1956 Suez Crisis
• June 5, 1967 — June 10, 1967 Six Day War
• July 1, 1967 — August 7, 1970 War of Attrition
• October 6, 1973 — October 25, 1973 Yom Kippur War
• July 21, 1977 — July 24, 1977 Libyan-Egyptian War
• January 25, 2011 — ongoing 2011 Egyptian Revolution and Aftermath
  • January 25, 2011 — February 11, 2011 Egyptian Revolution
  • Egyptian crisis (2011–14)
  • February 23, 2011 — ongoing Sinai insurgency
  • November 22, 2012 — July 3, 2013 Egyptian protests
  • June 28, 2013 — July 3, 2013 June 2013 Egyptian protests
  • July 3, 2013 — ongoing Political violence in Egypt
  • 2013 — ongoing Insurgency in Egypt (2013–present)

Sudan

• c. 1279 BC — 1213 BC Ramesses II's campaigns in Nubia
• 23 BC The Roman prefect of Egypt invaded the Kingdom of Kush after an initial attack by the queen of Meröe, razing Napata to the ground
• 1881–99 The Mahdist War
• September 1, 1939 — September 2, 1945 World War II
• August 18, 1955 — March 27, 1972 First Sudanese Civil War
• April 1983 — January 2005 Second Sudanese Civil War
• 1987 — ongoing Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
• 2003 — ongoing War in Darfur
• December 18, 2005 — January 15, 2010 Chad-Sudan conflict
• May 26, 2009 — ongoing Sudanese nomadic conflicts
• January 7, 2011 — ongoing Ethnic violence in South Sudan
• May 19, 2011 — ongoing Sudan–SRF conflict
• March 26, 2012 — September 26, 2012 Sudan–South Sudan Border War (Heglig Crisis)
• December 15, 2013 — ongoing South Sudanese Civil War

Libya

• c. 1279 BC — 1213 BC Ramesses II's Campaigns in Libya
• 264 BC — 146 BC Punic Wars
• 112 BC — 106 BC Jugurthine War
• 420s CE Vandals conquer the Roman province
• June 533 — March 534 Vandalic War
• 544 Second Moorish uprising and the revolt of Guntharic
• 647 — 709 Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
• Ottoman–Habsburg wars
  • 1551 Siege of Tripoli
• 1793 — 1795 Tripolitanian civil war
• 1797 Action of 16 May 1797
• 1801–05 First Barbary War
• 1825 Sardinian-Tripolitanian war of 1825
• 1911–43 Libyan resistance movement
• 1911–12 Italo-Turkish War
• June 11, 1940 — February 4, 1943: Western Desert Campaign, part of World War II
• 1977 Libyan-Egyptian War
• 1978–87 Chadian-Libyan conflict
• 2011 Libyan Civil War
• 2011 — ongoing Post-civil war violence in Libya
  • 2014 — ongoing Second Libyan Civil War

Tunisia

• 164 BCE — 146 BCE Punic Wars
  • Battle of Carthage (c. 149 BC)
• 112 BCE — 106 BCE Jugurthine War
• 238 CE Battle of Carthage
• 420s Vandals conquer the Roman province
• June 533 — March 534 Vandalic War
• 535 — 563 The Moorish Wars
• 629—1050s Arab–Byzantine wars
• 647 — 709 Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
• June 1801 — April 1804 Tunisian-Sicilian War
• 17 November 1942 – 13 May 1943 Tunisia Campaign (World War II)
• July 1961 Bizerte crisis
• April 11, 2002 — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb
• December 18, 2010 — January 14, 2011 Tunisian revolution
• June 26, 2015 — ongoing ISIL insurgency in Tunisia

Algeria

• 264 BCE — 146 BCE Punic Wars
• 112 BCE — 106 BCE Jugurthine War
• 420s CE Vandals conquer the Roman province
• June 533 — March 534 Vandalic War
• 544 Second Moorish uprising and the revolt of Guntharic
• 647 — 709 Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
• 1517 Fall of Tlemcen
• 1529 Capture of Algiers
• September 14, 1769 — May 16, 1772 Dano-Algerian War
• 1830 — 1847 French conquest of Algeria
• 1835 — 1903 Pacification of Algeria
• June 10, 1940 — May 13, 1943 North African Campaign (World War II)
• May 8, 1945 Sétif and Guelma massacre
• November 1, 1954 — March 19, 1962 CE Algerian War
• October 1963 Sand War
• 1970 — ongoing Western Sahara conflict
• December 26, 1991 — February 2002 Algerian Civil War
• April 11, 2002 — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb

Morocco

• 264 BCE — 146 BCE Punic Wars
• 112 BCE — 106 BCE Jugurthine War
• 420s CE Vandals conquer the Roman province
• June 533 CE — March 534 CE Vandalic War
• 544 CE Second Moorish uprising and the revolt of Guntharic
• 647 CE — 709 CE Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
• 739 CE — 743 CE Berber Revolt
• 1130 CE — 1147 CE Almoravid-Almohad War
• 1215 CE — 1269 CE Almohad-Marinid War
• 1125 CE — 1269 CE Almohad-Marinid War
• 1299 CE — 1370 CE Morocco-Tlemcen conflict
• 1415 CE — 1578 CE Moroccan-Portuguese conflict
• 1465 CE Moroccan Revolt
• 1527 CE — 1554 CE Wattassid-Saadian War
• September 1497 CE Conquest of Melilla
• 1603 CE — 1627 CE War of Succession
• 1554 CE — 1830 CE Moroccan-Turkish border conflict
• 1577 CE A Moroccan expedition occupied Taghaza
• 1582 CE A first expedition to Timbuktu was defeated
• 1591 CE A Moroccan expeditionary force defeated the Songhay army at Tondibi and conquered Gao, Timbuktu and Djenné
• 1554 CE — 1830 CE Moroccan-Turkish border conflict
• 1613 CE — 1666 CE Civil War
• 1844 CE First Franco-Moroccan War
• 1859 CE Spanish-Moroccan War
• 1893 CE Rif War
• 1909 CE Rif War
• 1911 CE — 1912 CE Second Franco-Moroccan War
• 1920 CE — 1926 CE Rif War
• 1914 CE — 1921 CE Zaian War
• 1942 CE North African Campaign
• 1957 CE — 1958 CE Ifni War
• 1963 CE Sand War
• 1970 CE — ongoing Western Sahara conflict
• 1975 CE — 1991 CE Western Sahara War
• April 11, 2002 CE — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb

Horn of Africa

Somalia

• c. 1700 BCE Invasion of Ancient Egypt by the Kingdom of Kush and the Land of Punt
• 1529 CE — 1543 CE Ethiopian-Adal War
• 1900 CE — 1920 CE Somaliland Campaign
• June 10, 1940 CE — November 27, 1941 CE East African Campaign (World War II)
• August 3, 1940 CE — August 19, 1940 CE Italian conquest of British Somaliland
• July 13, 1977 CE — March 15, 1978 CE Ethio-Somali War
• 1986 CE — 1991 CE Somali Rebellion
• January 26, 1991 CE — ongoing Somali Civil War
• 1995 CE — 2008 CE Insurgency in Ogaden

Ethiopia

• c. 1285 CE Ifat's conquest of shewa
• 1529 CE — 1543 CE Ethiopian-Adal War
  • March 1529 CE Battle of Shimbra Kure
  • 1531 CE Battle of Antukyah
  • October 28, 1531 CE Battle of Amba Sel
  • April 24, 1541 CE Battle of Sahart
  • February 2, 1542 CE Battle of Baçente
  • April 4, 1542 CE — April 16, 1542 CE Battle of Jarte
  • August 1542 CE Battle of the Hill of the Jews
  • August 28, 1542 CE Battle of Wofla
  • February 21, 1543 CE Battle of Wayna Daga
• 1895 CE — 1896 CE First Italo-Ethiopia War
  • March 1, 1896 CE Battle of Adwa
  • December 7, 1895 CE Battle of Amba Alagi
  • January 13, 1895 CE Battle of Coatit
• October 3, 1935 CE — May 1936 CE Second Italo-Abyssinian War
• June 10, 1940 CE — November 27, 1941 CE East African Campaign
• July 13, 1977 CE — March 15, 1978 CE Ethio-Somali War
• September 1, 1961 CE — May 29, 1991 CE Eritrean War of Independence
• Eritrean–Ethiopian War (1998–2000)
• Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict (2000-present)
• June 10, 2008 CE — June 13, 2008 CE Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict
• January 1, 2010 CE Eritrean-Ethiopian border skirmish

Djibouti

• November 1991 CE — December 1994 CE Djiboutian Civil War
• June 10, 2008 CE — June 13, 2008 CE Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict

Eritrea

• 1895 CE — 1896 CE First Italo-Ethiopia War
• October 3, 1935 CE — May 1936 CE Second Italo-Abyssinian War
• June 10, 1940 CE — November 27, 1941 CE East African Campaign (World War II)
• February 1972 CE — March 1981 CE Eritrean Civil Wars
• September 1, 1961 CE — May 29, 1991 CE Eritrean War of Independence
  • List of massacres committed during the Eritrean War of Independence
• December 15, 1995 CE — December 17, 1995 CE Hanish Islands conflict
• May 6, 1998 CE — May 25, 2000 CE Eritrean-Ethiopian War
• Eritrean–Ethiopian War (1998–2000)
• Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict (2000-present)
• June 10, 2008 CE — June 13, 2008 CE Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict
• January 1, 2010 CE Eritrean-Ethiopian border skirmish

Indian Ocean islands

Madagascar

• 1883 CE — 1885 CE First Madagascar expedition
• 1894 CE — 1895 CE Second Madagascar expedition
• 1942 CE Battle of Madagascar (World War II)
• 1947 CE — 1948 CE Madagascar revolt

Comoros

• March 25, 2008 CE — March 26, 2008 CE Invasion of Anjouan

Mauritius

• August 20, 1810 CE — August 27, 1810 CE Battle of Grand Port

African Great Lakes

Rwanda

• October 1, 1990 CE — July 18, 1994 CE Rwandan Civil War
  • April 7, 1994 CE — July 15, 1994 CE Rwandan Genocide

Burundi

• 1972 CE Burundi genocide
• October 21, 1993 CE — August 2005 CE Burundi Civil War
  • December 28, 2000 CE Titanic Express Massacre
  • September 9, 2002 CE Itaba Massacre
  • August 13, 2004 CE Gatumba Massacre
• April 26, 2015 — Ongoing Burundian unrest

Uganda

• January 25, 1971 CE 1971 Ugandan coup d'état
• July 4, 1976 CE Operation Entebbe
• October 30, 1978 CE — April 11, 1979 CE Uganda-Tanzania War
  • April 11, 1979 CE Fall of Kampala
• 1980 CE — 1985 CE Uganda National Rescue Front
• 1982 CE — 1986 CE Ugandan Civil War
• 1986 CE — 1988 CE Uganda People's Democratic Army
• 1986 CE — 1987 CE Holy Spirit Movement
• 1987 CE — ongoing Lord's Resistance Army
• 1996 CE Allied Democratic Forces
• 1996 CE — 2002 CE Uganda National Rescue Front II

Kenya

• August 3, 1914 CE — November 1918 CE East African Campaign (World War I)
• June 10, 1940 CE — November 27, 1941 CE East African Campaign (World War II)
• 1952 CE — 1960 CE Mau Mau Uprising
• 1963 CE — 1967 CE Shifta War
• 1980 CE Garissa Massacre
• February 10, 1984 CE Wagalla massacre
• 2005 CE Turbi Village Massacre
• 2007 CE — 2008 CE Kenyan crisis

Tanzania

• 1978 CE — 1979 CE Uganda-Tanzania War

West Africa

Benin

• 1724 CE — 1727 CE Abomey (Dahomey) conquests
• 1726 CE — 1730 CE First Oyo-Dahomey War
• 1738 CE — 1748 CE Second Oyo-Dahomey War
• 1764 CE Second Ashanti-Akim War
• 1768 CE Yoruba-Ashanti War
• 1889 CE — 1894 CE France conquers Dahomey

Burkina Faso

• 1985 CE Agacher Strip War

Cameroon

• 1804 CE — 1808 CE Fulani War
• 1835 CE — 1836 CE Fula jihads
• July 28, 1914 CE — November 11, 1918 CE World War I
• September 1, 1939 CE — September 2, 1945 CE World War II
• March 2014 — Ongoing Boko Haram insurgency
• November 2016 — Ongoing West Cameroon-marginalization motivated strike

Côte d'Ivoire

• 1883 CE — 1898 CE Mandingo Wars
• September 19, 2002 CE — March 4, 2007 CE First Ivorian Civil War
• 28 November 2010 – 11 April 2011 Second Ivorian Civil War

Gabon

• September 1, 1939 CE — September 2, 1945 CE World War II

Gambia

• 2016 CE — 2017 CE 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis
  • 2017 CE — ECOWAS intervention in the Gambia (2017)

Ghana

• 1620 CE — 1654 CE Dutch–Portuguese War
• 1664 CE — 1665 CE Anglo-Dutch Wars
• 1823 CE — 1831 CE Anglo-Ashanti wars
• 1900 CE War of the Golden Stool
• 1948 CE Accra Riots

Guinea

• 2013 CE Guinea clashes

Guinea-Bissau

• 1962 CE — 1974 CE Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
• 1997 CE — 1999 CE Guinea-Bissau Civil War

Liberia

• 1989 CE — 1996 CE First Liberian Civil War
• 1999 CE — 2003 CE Second Liberian Civil War

Mali

• 647 CE — 709 CE Muslim conquest of the Maghreb
• 1075 CE Almoravid conquest of the Ghana Empire
• c. 1230 CE — 1250 CE Early imperial expansion of the Mali Empire
• 1400 CE The Sandaki usurpation and second Mossi raid
• 1433 CE The Tuareg invasion
• c. 1460s CE Songhai conquered Mema
• 1810 CE — 1818 CE Mopti Jihad
• 1848 CE — 1864 CE Initial conquests of El Hadj Umar Tall Jihad
• 1883 CE — 1886 CE Mandingo Wars
• 1962 CE — 1964 CE First Tuareg rebellion
• 1985 CE Agacher Strip War
• 1990 CE — 1995 CE Azawad insurgency and Malian civil war
• April 11, 2002 CE — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb
• 2007 CE — 2009 CE Second Tuareg rebellion
• 2012 CE — Third Tuareg Rebellion
• 2012 CE — ongoing Northern Mali conflict

Mauritania

• 1970 CE — ongoing Western Sahara conflict
• April 11, 2002 CE — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb

Niger

• 1516 CE — 1517 CE Songhai Civil War
• 1916 CE — 1917 CE Kaocen Revolt
• 1990 CE — 1995 CE First Azawad insurgency
• April 11, 2002 CE — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb
• 2007 CE — 2009 CE Second Azawad insurgency
• 2012 CE Tuareg Rebellion

Nigeria

• 1578 CE — 1608 CE Oyo-Benin War
• 1804 CE — 1808 CE Fulani War
• 1835 CE — 1836 CE Fula jihads
• 1873 CE — Rafin Jaki Jihad
• 1897 CE Benin Expedition
• 1953 CE — ongoing Religious violence in Nigeria
• 1967 CE — 1970 CE Nigerian Civil War
  • 1998 CE — ongoing Communal conflicts in Nigeria (1998-present)
• 1999 CE — ongoing Nigerian Sharia conflict
  • 2009 CE — ongoing Niger Delta conflict (2004–present)
• 2009 CE — ongoing Boko Haram insurgency

São Tomé and Príncipe

• February 3, 1953 CE Batepá Massacre

Sierra Leone

• February 7, 1813 CE Action
• 1982 CE Ndogboyosoi War
• March 23, 1991 CE — January 18, 2002 CE Sierra Leone Civil War

Western Sahara

• October 23, 1957 CE — June 30, 1958 CE Ifni War
• 1970 CE - ongoing Western Sahara conflict
• October 30, 1975 CE — September 6, 1991 CE Western Sahara War

Central Africa

Central African Republic

• 1928 CE — 1931 CE Kongo-Wara rebellion
• 1987 CE — present Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
• 2004 CE — 2007 CE Central African Republic Bush War
• 2012 CE — present Central African Republic Civil War

Republic of Congo

• 1665 CE — 1709 CE Kongo Civil War
• Republic of the Congo Civil War (1993–94)
• 1997 CE — 1999 CE Congo (Brazzaville) Civil War
• 4 April 2016 — ongoing The Pool War

Democratic Republic of Congo

• 1892 CE – 1894 CE Congo Arab war
• 1895 CE - 1908 CE Batetela rebellion
• 28 July 1914 CE — 11 November 1918 CE World War I
• 1 September 1939 — 2 September 1945 World War II
• June 30, 1960 CE — November 25, 1966 CE Congo Crisis
  • 1964 CE Simba Rebellion
• 1960 CE — ongoing Katanga insurgency
• March 8, 1977 CE — May 26, 1977 CE Shaba I
• May 11, 1978 CE — June 1978 CE Shaba II
• 1987 CE — ongoing Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
• 1996 CE — ongoing ADF insurgency
• October 24, 1996 CE — May 16, 1997 CE First Congo War
• August 2, 1998 CE — July 18, 2003 CE Second Congo War
  • 1999 CE — ongoing Ituri Conflict
  • 2004 CE — ongoing Kivu Conflict
  • 2012 CE — 2013 CE M23 rebellion
  • December 2013 — ongoing Batwa-Luba clashes
• 8 August 2016 — ongoing Kamwina Nsapu rebellion

Chad

• c. 1203 CE — 1243 CE Dunama Dabbalemi, of the Sayfawa dynasty, mai of the Kanem Empire, declared jihad against the surrounding tribes and initiated an extended period of conquest
• c. 1455 CE — 1487 CE Ali Gazi, ruler of the Bornu Empire, took on the Bulala nomads, defeated them, and re-captured the old Kanem capital, Njimi
• Rabih's War
• 1965 CE — 1979 CE Civil war in Chad
• 1978 CE — 1987 CE Chadian-Libyan conflict (Toyota War)
• 1979 CE — 1982 CE Civil war in Chad
• 1998 CE — 2002 CE Civil war in Chad
• April 11, 2002 CE — ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb
• December 18, 2005 CE — January 15, 2010 CE Civil war in Chad

Southern Africa

South Africa

• May 18, 1803 CE — November 20, 1815 CE Napoleonic Wars
• 1817 CE — 1819 CE Ndwandwe–Zulu War
• 1830s CE — 1840s CE Great Trek
• February 17, 1838 CE Weenen Massacre
• January 11, 1879 CE — July 4, 1879 CE Anglo-Zulu War
• 1779 CE — 1879 CE Xhosa Wars
• December 20, 1880 CE — March 23, 1881 CE First Boer War
• October 11, 1899 CE — May 31, 1902 CE Second Boer War
• July 28, 1914 CE — November 11, 1918 CE World War I
  • September 15, 1914 CE — February 4, 1915 CE Maritz Rebellion
• March 21, 1960 CE Sharpeville Massacre
• June 16, 1976 CE Soweto Uprising
• August 26, 1966 CE — March 21, 1990 CE South African Border War

Zimbabwe

• October 1893 CE — January 1894 CE First Matabele War
• March 1896 CE — October 1897 CE Second Matabele War
• July 4, 1964 CE — December 12, 1979 CE Second Chimurenga/Rhodesian Bush War

Swaziland

• October 11, 1899 CE — May 31, 1902 CE Second Boer War

Lesotho

• 1880 CE — 1881 CE Gun War
• 1998 CE South African intervention in Lesotho

Mozambique

• July 28, 1914 CE — November 11, 1918 CE World War I
• September 25, 1964 CE — September 8, 1974 CE Mozambican War of Independence
• May 30, 1977 CE — October 4, 1992 CE Mozambican Civil War
• 2013 CE — 2014 Internal conflict in Mozambique

Angola

• February 4, 1961 CE — April 25, 1974 CE Angolan War of Independence
• November 11, 1975 CE — April 4, 2002 CE Angolan Civil War

Malawi

• August 3, 1914 CE — November 1918 CE World War I

Namibia

• 1994 CE — 1999 CE Caprivi conflict
• 1904 CE — 1907 CE Herero Genocide
• August 26, 1966 CE — March 21, 1990 CE Namibian War of Independence
• July 28, 1914 CE — November 11, 1918 CE World War I
  • September 15, 1914 CE — February 4, 1915 CE Maritz Rebellion

Zambia

• July 28, 1914 CE — November 11, 1918 CE World War I
• September 1, 1939 CE — September 2, 1945 CE World War II

Chronological list of wars

21st century

• 2001–present War on Terrorism
  • 1997–present Islamic Terrorism in Egypt
  • 2002–present Islamic insurgency in the Maghreb
  • 2002–present Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa
  • 2006 Rise of the Islamic Courts Union
  • 2006–2009 Ethiopian War in Somalia
  • 2007–present Operation Enduring Freedom - Trans Sahara
  • 2009–present Islamist civil war in Somalia
  • 2009 2009 Nigerian sectarian violence
• 2001–2003 Central African Republic civil war
• 2002–2003 Ivorian Civil War
• 2003–present War in Darfur
• 2004 French–Ivorian clashes
• 2004–present Conflict in the Niger Delta
• 2004–2007 Central African Republic Bush War
• 2004–present Kivu conflict
• 2005–2010 Chadian Civil War
• 2005–2008 Mount Elgon insurgency
• 2007–2009 Second Tuareg Rebellion
• 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
• 2008 Invasion of Anjouan
• 2008 Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
• 2009 Sudan airstrikes
• 2011 Second Ivorian Civil War
• 2011 Libyan Civil War
• 2012 Tuareg rebellion
• 2014 Second Libyan Civil War

See also

• List of conflicts in North America
• List of conflicts in Central America
• List of conflicts in South America
• List of conflicts in Europe
• List of conflicts in Asia
• List of conflicts in the Near East
• List of conflicts in the Middle East
• List of wars
• Military history of Africa
• List of modern conflicts in North Africa (the Maghreb region)
• List of modern conflicts in the Middle East