This is a list of mass or spree killers in Africa. A mass murderer is typically defined as someone who kills 3 or more people in one incident, with no "cooling off" period, not including themself. [1] [2] A mass murder typically occurs in a single location where one or more persons kill several others. [3] [4] [5]
This list does not include serial killers, members of democidal governments, or major political figures who orchestrated such actions.
Perpetrator | Date | Year | Location | Country | Killed | Injured | W | Additional Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unek, William, 27 [n 1] [n 2] | Jan. 1 Feb. 11 |
1954 1957 |
Mahagi Malampaka |
Belgian Congo Tanganyika |
21 36 |
30+ |
M FMA |
Killed by police | |
Komakech, Richard [n 1] | June 26 | 1994 | Kampala | Uganda | 26 |
13 |
F | Killed by one of his victim's father | |
Unknown Police Officer [n 1] | April 15 | 1983 | Asureti | Uganda | 21 |
? |
F | Committed suicide | [6] |
Unknown | Aug. | 1993 | Kilifi | Kenya | 18
|
25
|
V | Arrested | [7] |
Omar Abdul Razeq Abdullah Rifai, 28 [n 2] | Aug. 21 | 2013 | Meet Al Attar | Egypt | 15 |
? |
F | Killed by villagers Killed 23 people over the past five years |
|
Unknown Soldier [n 1] | Nov. 6 | 1995 | Nshili | Rwanda | 14–17 |
19 |
FM | Committed suicide | [8] |
Longo Dhendonga [n 1] | July 30 | 2020 | Sange | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 14 |
10 |
F | Sentenced to death | [9] |
Babby Ndombe Opetu [n 1] [n 2] | July 22 | 2023 | Nyakova | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 14 |
0 |
F | Sentenced to death | [10] |
Ogwang, Alfred, 28 [n 1] | Dec. 26 | 1994 | Kamwenge | Uganda | 13 |
14 |
F | Convicted | |
Unknown | Nov. 5 | 2016 | Juba | South Sudan | 13 |
10 |
F | Unsolved | [11] |
Fekadu Nasha [n 1] | May 12 | 2013 | Bahir Dar | Ethiopia | 12–18 |
2 |
F | Died | [12] |
Mogo [n 2] | May 12 | 1929 | Kitale | Kenya | 12 |
1 |
M | Sentenced to death | [13] |
Obwara, Lazaro, 55 | July 28 | 1950 | Kampala | Uganda | 12 |
0 |
M | Arrested | |
Ben Jebir, 28 [n 2] | March 25 | 1985 | Fahs | Tunisia | 12 |
? |
F | Committed suicide Terminated a pregnancy |
[14] |
Vukwana, Bulelani, 29 | Feb. 9 | 2002 | East London | South Africa | 11 |
6 |
F | Committed suicide | |
Amanyire, Chris [n 1] | April 11 | 2014 | Karugutu | Uganda | 10 |
25 |
F | Committed suicide | [15] |
Odoch, Patrick Okot [n 1] | March 9 | 2013 | Pakele & Gogonya | Uganda | 10 |
3 |
F | Sentenced to 90 years in prison | |
Karanja, Peter [n 1] | Nov. 6 | 2010 | Siakago | Kenya | 10 |
0 |
F | Arrested | [16] |
Delport, Carel Johannes, 36 [n 2] | Jan. 20 | 1992 | Ladysmith | South Africa | 9 |
19 |
F A | Sentenced to 39 years in prison Had killed two people previously |
[17] |
Unknown | Feb. 4 | 1974 | Calabar | Nigeria | 9 |
7 |
M | [18] | |
Unknown | Jan. 14 | 2001 | Brazzaville | Republic of the Congo | 9 |
2 |
F | Committed suicide | [19] |
Muhamali [n 2] | 1924 | Tanganyika | 9 |
0 |
Committed suicide | [20] | |||
Unknown | Jan. 21 | 1961 | Sunyani | Ghana | 9 |
? |
M | Arrested |
[21]
|
Ugwu, Onyekachi [n 2] | Oct. 13 | 2015 | Ngelefi | Nigeria | 9 |
? |
MA | At large Killed several animals |
[22] |
Kalanga | Bukoba District | Tanganyika | 9 |
? |
Committed suicide | [23] | |||
Ogunbiyi, Sunkanmi [n 1] [n 2] | March 27 | 2014 | Eleweran | Nigeria | 8–9 |
1 |
F | Committed suicide | [24] |
Swart, Stephanus Andries Johannes, 37 [n 2] | May 6 | 1927 | Charlestown | South Africa | 8–9 |
3 |
F | Committed suicide | [25] |
Unknown | April 27 | 1912 | Steamboat Africa | 8 |
23 |
M | Killed | [26] | |
Unknown Soldier, 18 [n 1] | March 27 | 1981 | Omashaka | Namibia | 8 |
12 |
F | Arrested | [27] |
Unknown | Aug. 23 | 1974 | El Motamadia | Egypt | 8 |
6 |
F | [28] | |
Katwesigye, Moses Katoko [n 2] | April 21 | 2016 | Kiruruma | Uganda | 8 |
3 |
F | Sentenced to 90 years in prison | [29] |
Unknown Soldier [n 1] | Feb. 3/4 | 1933 | Lomé | Togo | 8 |
2 |
F | Killed by soldiers | [30] |
Mateane, Chippa, 42 [n 1] [n 2] | April 3 | 2006 | Gauteng | South Africa | 8 |
2 |
F | Killed by police Terminated a pregnancy Bystander run over and killed by police |
[31] |
Nabénéza, Germain, 35 [n 2] | Nov. 13 | 1994 | La Grande Montée | Réunion | 8 |
1 |
FM | Committed suicide | [32] |
Beukes, Sylvester, 22 Beukes, Gavin, 25 |
March 4/5 | 2005 | Kareeboomvloer | Namibia | 8 |
0 |
F A | Both arrested Terminated a pregnancy |
[33] |
Unknown | Sept. | 1929 | Masindi | Uganda | 8 |
? |
Arrested | [34] | |
Kiti | 1940 | Rumuruti district | Kenya | 8 |
? |
MA | Sentenced to prison | [35] | |
Soera Brotto | Sept. 25/26 | 1786 | Cape Town | Cape Colony | 7 |
10 |
M | Sentenced to death and executed | [36] |
Unknown | March 3 | 1998 | Al-Minya | Egypt | 7 |
9 |
F | [37] | |
Unknown | May 27 | 1957 | Fort Hall District | Kenya | 7 |
6 |
M | Arrested | [38] |
Mucunguzi, Nicholas [n 1] | May 2 | 2009 | Kampala | Uganda | 7 |
6 |
F | Committed suicide or killed | [39] |
Kheshow, Thubelihle, 26 | October 9 | 2021 | Redcliff | Zimbabwe | 7
|
5
|
M | Found not guilty by reason of insanity | [40] |
Gaferiza, Alexandre
[n 1] Furaha, Joseph [n 1] |
Sept. 20 | 1998 | Mininja | Rwanda | 7 |
4 |
F E | Gaferiza was arrested | [41] |
Unknown Soldier [n 1] | June 18 | 2007 | Waat | Sudan | 7 |
3 |
F | Killed by soldiers | [42] |
Malam Kaigama Alhaji Jikurko, 30 [n 2] | Aug. 24 | 2008 | Jakusko | Nigeria | 7 |
3 |
M | Arrested | [43] |
Lino, Africano Abono [n 1] [n 2] | Oct. 15 | 2006 | Laguti | Uganda | 7 |
2+ |
F | Sentenced to death | [44] |
Chibueze, Henry [n 3] | February 16 | 2013 | Lagos | Nigeria | 7
|
2
|
F | Terminated a pregnancy | [45] |
Amou N'Talit Tademalit | May 13–15 | 1951 | Tadla-Azilal | Morocco | 7 |
2 |
F | Arrested | [46] |
Obua, Isaac [n 1] | June 16 | 2016 | Kampala | Uganda | 7 |
1–2 |
F | Killed | [47] |
Meyer, Paul Johannes, 35 [n 4] | June 2/3 | 2004 | Johannesburg | South Africa | 7
|
0
|
F | Committed suicide
Terminated a pregnancy |
[48] |
Amara Ben Ahmed | May | 1937 | Edough | Algeria | 7
|
?
|
[49] | ||
Unknown | Sept. | 1951 | Egypt | 7 |
? |
F | Arrested | [50] | |
Unknown | Nov. | 1964 | Transvaal Province | South Africa | 7 |
? |
M | [51] | |
Josef, Lukas, 21 [n 1] | Nov. 8 | 1980 | Ondangwa | Namibia | 7 |
? |
F | Arrested | [52] |
Michael, Bawa [n 1] | Nov. 11 | 2001 | Kaduna | Nigeria | 7 |
? |
F | Sentenced to death | [53] |
Lemba Abdallah, Alain [n 1] | May 4/5 | 2013 | Mongo | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 6–7 |
6–7 |
F | Sentenced to death | [54] |
Ngobi, Fred [n 1] | March 23 | 1998 | Kampala | Uganda | 6–7 |
0–1 |
F | Committed suicide | [55] |
Opwonya, Kenneth Albino [n 1] | July 2 | 2008 | Omiya-Nyima IDP camp | Uganda | 6 |
8 |
F | Sentenced to death | [56] |
Ndayisaba, Jean-Claude, 21 [n 1] | Oct. 8 | 1999 | Ruyaga | Burundi | 6 |
7 |
F | Sentenced to death | [57] |
Mahmud Taha Ahmad Sueilem, 54 (محمود طه أحمد سويلم) |
July 6 | 2010 | Meniel Shiha | Egypt | 6 |
6 |
F | Arrested | [58] |
Unknown | April 2 | 1960 | Bailundo | Angola | 6 |
5 |
M | Arrested | [59] |
Lombard, Petrus Lafras, 48 | 1954 | Morgenzon | South Africa | 6 |
4 |
F | Committed suicide | [60] | |
Unknown Police Officer [n 1] | Jan. 6 | 1967 | Cairo | Egypt | 6 |
4 |
[61] | ||
Unknown Police Officer [n 1] [n 2] | Nov. 6 | 2000 | Aïn Bouchekif | Algeria | 6 |
4 |
F V | Committed suicide | [62] |
Nkurunziza, Viateur [n 1] | May 10 | 1998 | Gikongoro | Rwanda | 6 |
3 |
F | Killed | [63] |
Imbasi, Benson [n 1] [n 5] | Dec. 7 | 2021 | Kabete | Kenya | 6 |
2 |
F | Committed suicide | [64] |
Nivome, Aro | May 21 | 1971 | Abakaliki | Nigeria | 6 |
1 |
M | Sentenced to death | [65] |
Unknown, 35 | Oct. 31 | 1984 | Chrissiesmeer | South Africa | 6 |
1 |
M | Arrested Also killed two dogs and two chickens |
[66] |
Wanyama, Andrew [n 1] | Sept. 27 | 2007 | Arua | Uganda | 6 |
1 |
F | Killed by soldiers | [39] [67] |
Unknown | Dec. | 1958 | Nzega District | Tanganyika | 6 |
? |
F | Committed suicide | [68] |
Unknown, 30 [n 2] | Aug. 29 | 1982 | Soweto | South Africa | 6 |
? |
M | Arrested | [69] |
Yego, Kibor, 18 | June 7 | 2006 | Marakwet District | Kenya | 6 |
? |
F | Arrested | [70] |
Unknown | Jan. 23 | 1961 | Krobo | Ghana | 6 |
? |
F | [71] | |
Unknown | Jan. 10 | 2015 | Juba | South Sudan | 6 |
? |
F | [72] | |
Unknown | August | 1935 | Buta | Belgian Congo | 5-6
|
?
|
F | Committed suicide | [73] |
Unknown soldier | July 19 | 2020 | Warta Nabada | Somalia | 5 |
20+ |
F | At large | [74] |
Unknown Police Officer [n 1] | Oct. 8 | 1985 | Djerba | Tunisia | 5 |
11 |
F | Arrested | [75] |
Khazri, Wissam, 30 | May 9 | 2023 | Djerba | Tunisia | 5 |
8 |
F | Killed by police | |
van Heerden, Cornelius Johannes Petrus, 21–22 | Nov. 26 | 1931 | Bethlehem | South Africa | 5 |
6 |
F | Committed suicide | [76] |
José, Jorge, 24–25 | June 2 | 2009 | Kainja | Angola | 5 |
6 |
M | Arrested | [77] |
Fortune, Christo Brian, 31 | July 1 | 2002 | Postmasburg | South Africa | 4 |
9 |
FM | Sentenced to four consecutive life terms | [78] |
Unknown | April 14 | 1956 | Nairobi | Kenya | 4 |
8 |
M | Arrested | [79] |
Smith, Leopold, 34 [n 2] | June 17 | 1963 | Umtali | Rhodesia | 4 |
7 |
F | Sentenced to death and executed | [80] |
Angulu, George [n 1] | May 21 | 2015 | Karenga | Uganda | 4 |
7 |
F | Committed suicide | [81] |
Unknown Police Officer [n 1] | March 28 | 2012 | Tudun Wada, Jos | Nigeria | 4 |
6 |
F | Arrested | [82] |
Unknown | Feb. 4 | 2001 | Kampala | Uganda | 3
|
21+
|
V | [83] | |
Duba, Boy, 20 | March 22 | 2009 | Mayflower | South Africa | 3 |
9–13 |
M | Arrested | [84] |
The victims must have been largely the relatives of the perpetrator to be considered a familicide.
Perpetrator | Date | Year | Location | Country | Killed | Injured | W | Additional Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Berri Khan | Feb. | 1914 | Tripoli | Libya | 10 |
0 |
MP | Committed suicide | [85] |
Unknown man | 2009 | Aden | Yemen | 10 |
0 |
A | Committed suicide | [86] | |
Mukobero Muchika, Jamin, 43* | April 29 | 2001 | Shibuye | Kenya | 9 |
6 |
M | Arrested Terminated a pregnancy |
[87] |
Sobhy Ibrahim Abdel-Alim, 42* (صبحى إبراهيم عبد العليم) |
July 19 | 2007 | Minya Governorate | Egypt | 8 |
3 |
F | Sentenced to death | [88] |
Kasoma, Christopher, 43* | April 27 | 2004 | Nsangi | Uganda | 8 |
0 |
M | Committed suicide Terminated two pregnancies |
[89] |
Njenga Fundi | Oct. 26/27 | 1968 | Mariani | Kenya | 7 |
3 |
F P | Arrested | [90] |
Siboza, Elias, 60 | Feb. 24 | 2000 | Clau Clau | South Africa | 7 |
2 |
F | Committed suicide | [91] |
Nkoana, Clifford, 30* | Nov. 9 | 1996 | Graaff-Reinet | South Africa | 7 |
1 |
F A | Committed suicide | [92] |
Lubbe, Pieter Albertus, 35 | Jan. 10 | 1953 | Fauresmith | South Africa | 7 |
0 |
F | Committed suicide | [93] |
Jooste, Johnny, 36* | Feb. 20 | 2000 | Ceres | South Africa | 7 |
0 |
F | Sentenced to 38 years | [94] |
Byekwaso, Abdallah, 28* | Aug. 17 | 2007 | Kiraba | Uganda | 7 |
0 |
M | Committed suicide | [95] |
Mohammad S.* | Jan. 31 | 2017 | Faw Qibli | Egypt | 7 |
0 |
F | Arrested | [96] |
Kamili, Theophil, 52* | Sept. 28 | 2010 | Barazani village | Tanzania | 7 |
0 |
A | Arrested Killed a number of cattle, sheep and goats |
[97] |
Unknown, 16* | Oct. | 1927 | Zagazig | Egypt | 6 |
1 |
P | Arrested | [98] |
Feher, Lios, 33* | Dec. 28 | 1969 | Benoni | South Africa | 6 |
1 |
F | Committed suicide | [99] |
Kapambe, Lemison, 22 | June 3 | 2012 | Pondani | Malawi | 6 |
1 |
M | Killed by angry mob | [100] |
J. M., 45* | Jan. 2 | 1976 | Kenya | 6 |
0 |
M | Arrested | [101] | |
M'Maroo, William, 17 | May 26 | 1988 | Linjoka | Kenya | 6 |
0 |
M | Died while trying to escape | [102] |
van Heerden, Jacobus Johannes, 55* | Feb. 20 | 2007 | Vanderbijlpark | South Africa | 6 |
0 |
F | Committed suicide | [103] |
Thokamolemo, Orelesitse Modise 26* | Jan. | 2008 | Letlhakane | Botswana | 6 |
0 |
M | Sentenced to death and executed | [104] |
Mokhali, Tsepang Solomon, 21* | Dec. 28 | 2012 | Inanda | South Africa | 6 |
0 |
FM | Sentenced to six life terms Terminated a pregnancy |
[105] |
Unknown | June 17 | 2005 | Kajiado | Kenya | 6 |
? |
Arrested | [106] |
W – A basic description of the weapons used in the murders