This is a list of notable people who have been assassinated in Africa.
Algeria DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)Notes117 BCEHiempsal, co-ruler of NumidiaHiempsal's death was ordered by his cousin, Jugurtha.François Darlan, former Head of Government of Vichy France and High Commissioner of France in AfricaFernand Bonnier de La ChapelleLarbi Ben M'Hidi, Algerian nationalist and FLN leaderHanged by French Army officers under Paul Aussaresses; his death was initially passed off as a suicide.Larbi Tbessi, nationalist and president of the Association of Algerian Muslim Ulema Thrown from a building by French Army officers under Paul Aussaresses; at the time, his death was passed off as a suicide.Maurice Audin, Pied-noir and PC militantMouloud Feraoun, writerOrganisation armée secrèteOctober 18, 1970Krim Belkacem, politicianAssassinated in his hotel room in Frankfurt.Gaston Marie Jacquier, Catholic bishopAbdessalam AbdelkaderStabbed in a crowded Algiers street while wearing full clerical attire. The assassin had a history of psychiatric problems, but was suspected by some to have been religiously motivated.Mustafa Bouyali, Islamic fundamentalistAmbushed by Algerian security services.Mohamed Boudiaf, Chairman of the High Council of StateLambarek BoumaarafiShot at Annaba."Historic Assassinations Since 1865," The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2004, p156 (World Almanac 2004)Tahar Djaout, journalist, poet and authorKilled by the Armed Islamic Group.Kasdi Merbah, former Prime Minister of AlgeriaAbdelkader Alloula, playwrightKilled by two members of the Islamic Front for Armed Jihad.Cheb Hasni, singerSaïd Mekbel, journalistAssassinated with a car bomb in Aïn Bénian.Aboubakr Belkaid, former ministerSeven Trappist monks of TibérineThe monks were kidnapped by the Armed Islamic Group in March 1996, and reportedly executed on May 21; others claim that the monks were accidentally killed by the Algerian army. See Assassination of the monks of Tibhirine.Pierre Lucien Claverie, Catholic bishop of OranAli Boucetta, Mayor of AlgiersAbdelhak Benhamouda, trade unionistLounès Matoub, Berberist singerAbdelkader Hachani, Islamic fundamentalistFouad BoulemiaFouad Boulemia, a member of the Armed Islamic Group, was convicted for Hachani's murder and sentenced to death, but was later released.
Angola DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesJeremias Chitunda, Vice President of UNITAKilled by government troops as part of the Halloween Massacre.November 2, 1992Elias Salupeto Pena, UNITA senior advisorKilled by government troops as part of the Halloween Massacre.February 22, 2002Jonas Savimbi, founder and leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of AngolaHis death marked the end of the Angolan Civil War.
Benin DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesMichel Aikpé, Minister of the Interior
Burkina Faso DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesThomas Sankara, Head of State of Burkina FasoKilled in the 1987 Burkina Faso coup d'état organised by Blaise Compaoré.Norbert Zongo, journalist
Burundi DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesLouis Rwagasore, Prime Minister of BurundiGeorges KageorgisPierre Ngendandumwe, Prime Minister of Burundi"Chief Political Assassinations Since 1865," The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1967, p257 (World Almanac 1967)Joseph Bamina, Prime Minister of BurundiKilled during the 1965 Burundian coup d'état attemptApril 29, Ntare V Ndizeye, deposed King of BurundiMelchior Ndadaye, President of Burundi, founder of the Burundi Workers' PartyOverthrown and killed in the 1993 Burundian coup d'état attemptErnest Kabushemeye, Minister for Mines and Energy Joachim Ruhuna, Roman Catholic archbishop of GitegaKassi Manlan, World Health Organization representativeMurdered in a conspiracy after discovering that aid money was being diverted into private accounts.Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Minister of Water and the EnvironmentAssassinated in Bujumbura.
Cameroon DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesRuben Um Nyobé, anti-colonialist leader and founder of the Union of the Peoples of CameroonKilled by the French ArmyFélix-Roland Moumié, anti-colonialist leader of the Union of the Peoples of CameroonKilled by the SDECE
Central African Republic DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesDecember 4, 1996Christophe Grelombe, government minister
Chad DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesFrançois Tombalbaye, President of ChadKilled during the 1975 Chadian coup d'étatAbbas Koty, rebel leaderIdriss Déby, President of ChadKilled in the 2021 Northern Chad offensive
Comoros DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesAli Soilih, former President of ComorosKilled after being overthrown in a coupAhmed Abdallah, President of ComorosOverthrown in a coup.Combo Ayouba, army chief of staff and former interim head of state
Republic of the Congo DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesMarien Ngouabi, President of the CongoBarthélemy Kikadidi and othersShot in Brazzaville.World Almanac 2004, p156Émile Cardinal Biayenda, Roman Catholic archbishop of BrazzavilleAbducted and killed by soldiersAlphonse Massamba-Débat, former President of the CongoKilled for his alleged involvement in the murder of President NgouabiAngèle Bandou, former presidential candidate
Ivory Coast DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesÉmile Boga Doudou, Minister of State for the Interior and DecentralizationKilled in a coup that started the First Ivorian Civil WarRobert Guéï, former President of Ivory Coast.Killed in a coup that started the First Ivorian Civil WarRose Doudou Guéï, wife of Robert Guéï and former First Lady of Ivory Coast.Killed in a coup that started the First Ivorian Civil War
Democratic Republic of the Congo DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesPatrice Lumumba, former Prime Minister of the CongoWorld Almanac 1967, p257Soldiers of the State of Katanga with the involvement of Belgian officialsSent to the breakaway region of Katanga to be killed after being ousted in a coup led by Joseph Mobutu during the Congo CrisisMaurice Mpolo, former Minister of Interior, and associate of LumumbaJoseph Okito, Vice-President of the Senate and associate of LumumbaPhilippe Bernard, Ambassador of France to ZaireKilled during an army mutiny in KinshasaMay 6, Mahele Lieko Bokungu, Commanding General of the Forces Armées ZaïroisesKilled by Mobutu loyalists for attempting to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Laurent-Désiré Kabila during the First Congo WarLaurent-Désiré Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the CongoRashidi Muzele Killed by one of his bodyguardsLuca Attanasio, Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (suspected)Killed in an ambush in Goma
Egypt DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesAmenemhat I, Pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of EgyptThe identity of the assassin is unknown and the fact of the assassination is not entirely certain. Nevertheless, it is accepted as likely that he was killed in his bedchamber by members of his bodyguard as described in the Instructions of Amenemhat. The assassination of Amenemhat I is commonly cited as the first recorded political assassination in history.Ramesses III, Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of EgyptTiye, Pebekkamen, and other members of the Harem conspiracyCT scans of his mummy show the king throat was cut deeply enough to strike bone, likely killing him immediately. The conspirators, who were attempting to install Tiye's son Pentawer on the throne, failed, and (according to the Judicial Papyrus of Turin) were tried and sentenced to death by the government of Ramesses's intended successor Ramesses IV.Pompey the Great, Roman general and politicianAchillas, Lucius Septimius Salvius, and Julius CaesarAl-Afdal Shahanshah, vizier of Fatimid EgyptAl-Amir bi-Ahkami l-Lah, Fatimid CaliphQutuz, Mamluk sultan of EgyptBaybarsJean Baptiste Kléber, French generalSuleiman al-HalabiBoutros Ghali, Prime Minister of EgyptIbrahim Nassif al-WardaniSir Lee Stack, Governor-General of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudanshot by Egyptian nationalists while driving through Cairo.Walter Edward Guinness, Lord Moyne, the UK's Minister Resident in the Middle EastEliyahu Hakim, a member of Zionist group LehiAhmed Maher Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt"Assassinations and Political Murders," 20th Century Timeline (Griesewood & Dempsey, Ltd., 1985) (Crescent Books, 1985) [20th Century Timeline], p119Mustafa Essawy .Amin Osman, Former minister of finance.A group of Egyptian army officers including Anwar Sadat.Mahmud Fahmi Nokrashi, Prime Minister of Egypt20th Century Timeline, p120Abdel Meguid Ahmed HassanHassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim BrotherhoodState Security Investigations ServiceWasfi al-Tal, Prime Minister of JordanBlack SeptemberShot by members of Black September during a visit to Cairo.December 7, 1977David Holden, British journalist for The Sunday Times UnknownFound dead while visiting Cairo. Holden was suspected of secretly working for the CIA and the KGB.Anwar Sadat, President of EgyptKhalid IslambouliShot while reviewing a military parade; see Assassination of Anwar El Sadat.Rifaat al-Mahgoub, Speaker of the Egyptian parliamentFarag Foda, politician and intellectualIslamist movement al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility for the attack.Hisham Barakat, Prosecutor GeneralKilled in car bombing.
Equatorial Guinea DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesGustavo de Sostoa y Sthamer, Spanish governor
Eswatini DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesGabriel Mkhumane, political opposition leader
Ethiopia DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesDecember 17, Ras Abebe Aragai, Prime MinisterKilled during a failed coup attemptJune 22, 2019General Se'are Mekonnen, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense ForceKilled during the Amhara Region coup d'état attemptJune 22, 2019Major General Gezae Abera, Aide to General MekonnenKilled during the Amhara Region coup d'état attemptMarch 30, 2023 Desalegn Bokonja, head of the Prosperity Party’s office in NekemteApril 27, 2023 Girma Yeshitila, head of the Prosperity Party in AmharaMay 8, 2023Omer Lemma, head of the Prosperity Party in Haruka Woreda, Afar Region
The Gambia DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesDeyda Hydara, journalist
Ghana DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesApril 17, Emmanuel Kotoka, member of the National Liberation Council and Chief of the Defence StaffKilled during Operation Guitar BoyJune 30, Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Justice of the High Court of GhanaAbducted and killed along with two other justices by soldiersJune 30, Frederick Poku Sarkodee, Justice of the High Court of GhanaAbducted and killed along with two other justices by soldiersJune 30, Kwadwo Agyei Agyapong, Justice of the High Court of GhanaAbducted and killed along with two other justices by soldiers
Guinea DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesAmílcar Cabral, anti-colonial activist and Pan-African intellectualInocêncio KaniKilled in Conakry.
Guinea-Bissau DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesBatista Tagme Na Waie, chief of staff of the armyJoão Bernardo Vieira, President of Guinea BissauShot by soldiers during armed attack on his residence in Bissau in retaliation for the killing of Batista Tagme Na WaieBaciro Dabó, former Interior Minister and presidential candidateHelder Proença, former Defense Minister
Kenya DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesPio Gama Pinto, journalist, anti-colonial activist and socialist legislatorTom Mboya, Minister of Economic Planning "Historic Assassinations Since 1865," The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1982 (World Almanac 1982), p750March 2, Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, Assistant Government MinisterJanuary 3, Joy Adamson, conservationistAugust 20, George Adamson, conservationistRobert Ouko, Foreign MinisterDisappeared on February 12–13; found dead on February 16.Seth Sendashonga, former interior minister of RwandaAugust 23, John Anthony Kaiser, Roman Catholic priestOscar Kamau Kingara, human rights activistJohn Paul Oulo, human rights activistCharles Ong'ondo, Member of ParliamentShot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle in Nairobi
Liberia