List of rebel groups that control territory

This is a list of active rebel groups that control territory around the world whose domains may be subnational, transnational, or international. A "rebel group" is defined here as a polity that uses armed conflict in opposition to established government (or governments) for reasons such as to seek political change or to establish, maintain, or to gain independence. Groups that "control territory" are defined as any group that hold any populated or inhabited city, town, village, hamlet, or defined area that is under the direct administration or military control of the group. Such control may be contested and might be temporary or fluctuating, especially under the circumstance of conflict.

It does not include the governments of stable breakaway states or other states with limited recognition.

Within state Rebel group Conflict Control
since
Territory controlled Notes Leader Headquarters
 Burkina Faso
 Mali
 Benin
 Niger
 Togo
JNIM Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso
Mali War
Jihadist insurgency in Northern Benin
Islamist insurgency in Niger
2006 Parts of Burkina Faso
Parts of central and northern Mali
Parts of W National Park and Pendjari National Park
Parts of southern Niger
Parts of northern Togo
Iyad Ag Ghaly Tinzaouaten (Mali)
 Somalia Al-Shabaab Somali Civil War (2009–present) Large parts of southern and central Somalia where it proclaimed the Islamic Emirate of Somalia Ahmed Diriye Jilib (Somalia)
Puntland 2024 Northeastern Somalia Said Abdullahi Deni Garowe
Jubaland Southern Somalia Declared itself temporarily independent of Somalia on 31 March 2024 Sheikh Ahmed Madobe Kismayo
 Palestine Hamas (Gaza Strip under Hamas) Fatah–Hamas conflict 2007 Parts of the Gaza Strip Hamas temporary committee Gaza City
Popular Forces (Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip) Popular Forces–Hamas conflict 2024 Eastern Rafah Governorate as well as parts of Khan Yunis Opposed to the Hamas government, backed by Israel Yasser Abu Shabab Al-Bayuk
Paraguay Paraguayan People's Army Insurgency in Paraguay 2005 Areas in Northeast Paraguay Manuel Cristaldo Mieres

Magna Meza

Carmen Villalba

Horqueta
Peru Communist Party of Peru – Red Mantaro Base Committee Internal conflict in Peru 2001 Mantaro Valley Remnants of the Shining Path a group that controlled Territory and operated as a parallel government until the 1990s "Comrade Netzel López Lozano" Mantaro Valley
Communist Party of Peru – Huallaga Regional Committee 2004 Huallaga province "Comrade Artemio" Huallaga province
Militarized Communist Party of Peru 1992 Huanta province "Comrade José" Huanta province
Philippines New People's Army New People's Army rebellion 1969 73-110 villages in the Countryside Armando Liwanag Unknown
 Nigeria Boko Haram (Territory of Boko Haram) Boko Haram insurgency 2009 Parts of Borno, Kaduna, and Niger States Relocated to Kaduna State after the Battle of Sambisa Forest Abu Umaimata Chikun
 Burkina Faso
 Mali
 Mozambique
 Niger
 Nigeria
 Somalia
Islamic State Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso
Mali War
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado
Jihadist insurgency in Niger
Boko Haram insurgency
Somali Civil War
2015 Parts of Burkina Faso
Several villages in Gao
Parts of Cabo Delgado
Parts of southern Niger
Parts of Borno State
Several villages in Bari
Designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi Unknown
 Nigeria Indigenous People of Biafra Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria 2021 Parts of the former Republic of Biafra[citation needed] Nnamdi Kanu Unknown
 Cameroon Biafra Nations League Bakassi conflict Parts of the Bakassi Peninsula[citation needed] Princewill Chimezie Richards, Henry Edet Bakassi
Red Dragon Anglophone Crisis 2019 Several villages in Lebialem, Southwest Region Loyal to the Interim Government of Ambazonia Lekeaka Oliver Unknown
 Central African Republic Coalition of Patriots for Change Central African Republic Civil War 2020 Parts of Central African Republic Coalition of multiple groups including Anti-balaka, 3R, and MPC François Bozizé N'Djamena, Chad
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mai-Mai Kivu conflict 2003 Parts of northeastern DRC Various groups Various leaders Depending on group
March 23 Movement 2012 Parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces Bertrand Bisimwa
Nduma Defense of Congo-Renouveau 2015 Parts of North Kivu province Shimiray Mwissa Guidon Pinga
Zaïre-FPAC 2020 Ituri Province Zawadi Vajeru
National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo 2017 South Kivu and Maniema William Yakutumba
CODECO 1999 Ituri Province Ali Ngadjole Ngabu Djugu territory
Mobondo Western DR Congo clashes 2022 Rural areas northeast of Kinshasa and in the surrounding provinces Odon Nkimona Kumbu Kwamouth
 Ethiopia Fano War in Amhara 2023 Parts of the Amhara Region Zemene Kassie
 Myanmar Kachin Independence Organization Myanmar conflict
Myanmar civil war
1960s Parts of Kachin State Kachin militant group N'Ban La Laiza
People's Defence Force 2021 Parts of Sagaing Region Burmese militant group, claim to be the legitimate government of Myanmar Duwa Lashi La
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army 1989 Parts of northern Shan State Kokang Chinese militant group Peng Daxun Laukkai
Karenni IEC 2021 Parts of Kayah State Karenni militant group Khun Oo Reh
Chinland Parts of northern Chin State Chin militant group (Northern) Pu Zing Cung Camp Victoria
Karen National Union 1947 Parts of Kayin State Karen militant group Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win Lay Wah
Palaung State Liberation Front 1992 Parts of northern Shan State Palaung militant group Tar Aik Bong
Tar Bone Kyaw
Chin Brotherhood Alliance 2023 Parts of southern Chin State Chin militant group (Southern)
Arakan Army 2009 Most of Rakhine State Led by United League of Arakan Twan Mrat Naing
Wa State 1989 Parts of northern and southern Shan State De facto independent state Bao Youxiang Pangkham
Shan State Progress Party 1971 Parts of central Shan State Shan militant group
Restoration Council for Shan State 1996 Parts of southern Shan State Yawd Serk Loi Tai Leng
Pa-O National Liberation Organization 2024 Pa-O militant group (Eastern) Khun Thurein
Khun Kyaw Htin
Pa-O National Organisation 1949 Pa-O militant group (Western) Aung Kham Hti
Peace and Solidarity Committee 1989 Parts of eastern Shan State Shan militant group (Eastern) U Sai Leun
Karen National Army 2024 Near Myawaddy, Kayin State Karen militant group (Myawaddy) Saw Chit Thu Shwe Kokko
Other small militant groups
 Senegal Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance Casamance conflict 1982 Parts of Casamance
 Sudan New Sudan Sudanese civil war (2023–present) 2023 Parts of Southern Sudan Abdelaziz al-Hilu Kauda
Rapid Support Forces Sudanese civil war (2023–present) 2023 Territory across Sudan, mostly in the south and west. Hemedti
Syria Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda Syrian civil war 2025 Suwayda Governorate Hikmat al-Hijri Suwayda
 Yemen Southern Movement
Southern Transitional Council
Yemeni civil war 2017 Some of the territory in South Yemen Maintains a tenuous peace with the Yemeni government Aidarus al-Zoubaidi Aden
Houthis 2004 Most of former North Yemen, including Sana'a, and parts of South Yemen in what has been referred to as Houthi Yemen Controls the Supreme Political Council, unrecognized by the international community Mahdi al-Mashat Sa'dah

See also

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