Lists of historical separatist movements

For currently active movements, see Lists of active separatist movements.

This is a list of historical separatist movements around the world. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism. Most separatist movements do not succeed in their goal, therefore only notable ones are listed here; however, not all listed here succeeded in their goal.

Africa

Algeria

(gained independence from France on July 5, 1962)

• Political party: Algerian National Movement (MNA)
• Rebel organization: Front de Libération Nationale (FLN)
• Parallel government: Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA)

Angola

• Political party: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA)
• Parallel government: Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile (GRAE)

Botswana

• Political party: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana People's Party (BPP)

Burundi

• Political party: Union for National Progress (UPRONA)

Cameroon

• Political party: Rassemblement camerounais (RACAM), Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC)
• Rebel organizations: National Liberation Army of Kamerun (ALNK)

Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau

• Political party: African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Struggle Front for the National Independence of Guinea (FLING)

Central African Republic

• Political party: Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MÉSAN)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Political party: Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), ABAKO

Côte d'Ivoire

• Rebel organization: Patriotic Movement of Côte d'Ivoire (MPCI)

Egypt

• Political party: Wafd Party

Eritrea

• Rebel organization: Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)

France

• Réunion

Autonomist movement

• Political party: Communist Party of Réunion (which still exists, but has abandoned its goal of autonomy)

Ghana

• Political party: Convention People's Party (CPP), United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)
• Self-government experiment: Fante Confederation

Katanga

• Political party: Confederation of the Tribal Associations of Katanga (CONAKAT)

Kenya

• Political party: East Africa Association, Kenya African National Union (KANU), Kikuyu Central Association, Young Kikuyu Association
• Rebel organization: Mau Mau

Mali

• Political party: Sudanese Union (US)

Mauritius

• Political party: Mauritius Labour Party (MLP), Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM)

Morocco

• Political party: Istiqlal Party, National Action Bloc
• Secessionist entity: Rif Republic

Mozambique

• Political party: Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO)

Namibia

• Political party: South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), South West Africa National Union (SWANU)
• Rebel organizations: People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN),

Niger

• Political party: Nigerien Progressive Party, Sawaba

Nigeria

• Political party: Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), Action Group, Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Northern People's Congress
• Secessionist entity: Republic of Biafra

São Tomé and Príncipe

• Political party: Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (CLSTP), Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP)

Seychelles

• Political party: Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP)

Sierra Leone

• Political party: Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), West African Youth League (WAYL)

South Africa

• Secessionist movement: Eastern Cape Separatist League

Somalia

• Political party: Somali Youth League (SYL)

Sudan

• Political party: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sudanese Communist Party, Umma Party

Tanganyika

• Political party: Tanganyika African Association, Tanganyika African National Union

Tunisia

• Political party: Destour, Young Tunisians, Neo Destour (ND)

Uganda

• Political party: Rwenzururu Secessionist Movement, Uganda People's Congress (UPC)

Zambia

• Political party: Northern Rhodesian African National Congress, United National Independence Party (UNIP), Zambian African National Congress (ZANC)

Zanzibar

• Political party: Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)

Zimbabwe

• Political party: Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
• Rebel organizations: Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA)

Asia

Bangladesh

• People: Bengalis (East Pakistanis)
  • Political party: Bangladesh Awami League
  • Rebel organization: Mukti Bahini
  • Status: Resulted in independence of Bangladesh in 1971 after the Bangladesh Liberation War.
• People: Jumma people
  • Political party: Porbotto Chottogram Jonshonghoti Shomiti, or Chittagong Hill Tribal People's Coordination Association
  • Rebel organisation: Shanti Bahini
  • Proposed state: Autonomous Hill Tribes
  • Status: Inactive following the 1996 peace treaty between the Government of Bangladesh and the tribal leaders.
• People: Bengali Hindus, south-western Bangladesh
  • Political party: Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolan
  • Rebel organisation: Banga Sena
  • Proposed State: Bangabhumi

Burma

• Political party: Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, Dobama Asiayone, Communist Party of Burma
• Rebel organization: Burma Independence Army

Cambodia

• Khmer Issarak
• Khmer Rouge
• Khmer Serei

British India

• Political party: All India Forward Bloc, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Swaraj Party, Ghadar Party
• Parallel government: Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind
• Rebel organization: Indian National Army
• Political party: Muslim League responsible for Pakistan Movement

India

• People : Tripuri
• Rebel organisation : National Liberation Front of Tripura, All Tripura Tiger Force
• Status : Inactive

• People : Kashmiri people
• Political Party: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front
• Rebel organisation : Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar e toiba

Indonesia

• Political party: Communist Party of Indonesia, Nationalist Party of Indonesia
• Rebel organization: Free Aceh Movement
• Secessionist entity: Republic of West Papua

Japan

• Republic of Ezo

Laos

• Rebel organization: Lao Issara, Pathet Lao

Malaysia

• Political party: Alliance Party (United Malays National Organisation, Malayan Chinese Association & Malayan Indian Congress)

Maldives

• Suvadives
  • Proposed state: United Suvadive Republic

Mongolia

• Political party: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party

Oman

• Rebel organizations: Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF), Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf/Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG)

Philippines

• Political party: Nacionalista Party
• Society: Katipunan, La Liga Filipina
• Secessionist entities: Katagalugan, First Philippine Republic, Cantonal Republic of Negros, Republic of Zamboanga

Singapore

• Political party: Labour Front, People's Action Party

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Tamil people

• Proposed state: Tamil Eelam
  • Political party: Tamil National Alliance
  • Militant organisation: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
  • Advocacy groups: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Global Tamil Forum
  • Government in exile: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam

Syria

• National Bloc

Vietnam

• Duy Tân Hội
• Indochinese Communist Party
• National Liberation Front of South Vietnam
• Việt Minh
• Việt Nam Cách Mệnh Đồng Minh Hội
• Việt Nam Quang Phục Hội
• Việt Nam Quốc Dân Dảng

Yemen

• Rebel organization: Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen, National Liberation Front of South Yemen

Europe

Albania

• League of Prizren
• Northern Epirus

Belgium

• Political parties
  • Flemish
    • Vlaams Belang, New Flemish Alliance
    • Sociaal-Liberale Partij member of the European Free Alliance

Bulgaria

• Political party: Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee, Internal Revolutionary Organisation

Cyprus

• Rebel organizations: EOKA, Turkish Resistance Organisation

Czech Republic

• Political party: Young Czech Party, Czech National Social Party

Finland

• Political movement: Fennoman
• Political party: Finnish Party, Young Finnish Party
• Åland Islands
  • Political movement: Åland movement

France

• Basque Country (also in Spain)
  • Political parties: Basque Nationalist Party, Basque Unity
  • Rebel organization: Basque homeland and Freedom (ETA)
• Corsica
  • Political parties: Corsica Nazione, Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
• Brittany
  • Political parties: Union Démocratique Bretonne, Breton Party
  • Rebel organization: Breton Revolutionary Army, Liberation Front of Brittany
• Alsace
  • Political parties : Alsace d'abord *

Germany

• Short-lived Republic: Rhenish Republic
• Lower Saxony
• Alemannic Separatism
• Bavarian Soviet Republic

Greece

(gained independence from Ottoman Empire after the Greek War of Independence)

• Society: Filiki Eteria
• Unrecognized state: Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece, Peloponnesian Senate, Senate of Western Continental Greece, Provisional Administration of Greece (after 1822)
• Militant organisations: Armatoloi/Klephts, Sacred Band, Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy

Ireland

(See also under UK, for pre-division Ireland)

• Home Rule League
• Irish National League
• Irish Parliamentary Party
• Irish Republican Brotherhood
• Provisional Government of the Irish Republic
• Sinn Féin
• Society of United Irishmen
• United Irish League
• Young Ireland

Italy

• Sardinia (Sardinian nationalism)
• Sicily (Sicilian nationalism)
• Veneto (Venetian nationalism)

Republic of Macedonia

Albanian-inhabited communities in SR Macedonia and Republic of Macedonia

• Ethnic group: Albanians
• Political parties: Democratic Party of Albanians, Party for Democratic Prosperity
• Goals: Autonomy (1994–99), independence and/or unification with Republic of Kosovo (2000–01)
• Events: Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia
• Timespan: 1994–2001

Serbian-inhabited communities in SR Macedonia

• Ethnic group: Serbs
• Political parties: Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia, Radical Party of the Serbs in Macedonia
• Goals: Autonomy (Serbian Autonomous Region of Kumanovo Valley and Skopska Crna Gora)
• Timespan: 1992

Poland

• Narodowa Demokracja
• Towarzystwo Demokratyczne Polskie (Polish Democratic Society)
• Union of Upper Silesians
• Silesian People's Party
• Association of Defense of Upper Silesians

Slovakia

• Political party: Slovak National Party

Soviet Union

• Political parties:
• Azerbaijani Popular Front Party
• Belarusian People's Front
• Rahvarinne
• Popular Front of Latvia, Latvian National Independence Movement
• Sąjūdis
• Moldovan Popular Front
• People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh)
• Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
• Ukrainian Insurgent Army

Spain

• Basque Country Basque Country (also in France)
  • Political parties: Aralar Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Batasuna, Eusko Abertzale Ekintza, Eusko Alkartasuna, Nafarroa Bai
  • Rebel organizations: Basque homeland and Freedom (ETA), SEGI
• Catalonia
  • Political parties: Convergence and Union (Democratic Convergence of Catalonia + Democratic Union of Catalonia), Republican Left of Catalonia, Catalan State , Popular Unity Candidacy, Democrats of Catalonia, Left Movement, Catalan Solidarity for Independence, Reagrupament, National Front of Catalonia
  • Rebel organizations: Terra Lliure (disbanded), Exèrcit Popular Català (disbanded)
  • Organizations: Assemblea Nacional Catalana, Òmnium Cultural
  • Labour unions: Intersindical-CSC, Coordinadora Obrera Sindical
• Galicia
  • Political Parties: Galician Nationalist Bloc, Nós-Unidade Popular
• Asturias
  • Political parties: Bloque por Asturies, Unidá Nacionalista Asturiana, Andecha Astur
  • Rebel organization: Andecha Obrera (disbanded)
• Canary Islands
  • Political party: Congreso Nacional de Canarias, Frepic-Awañak, Unión del Pueblo Canario
  • Organizations: MPAIAC
  • Armed groups: Fuerzas Armadas Guanches

Turkey

• Political party: Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Party)
• Rebel organization: Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

United Kingdom (and associated territories)

• Cornwall: - New Cornish Tertia army, An Gof, Cornish Solidarity
• England - Free England Party, English People's Liberation Army
• Northern Ireland: Irish Republican Brotherhood, Clan na Gael, Young Ireland, Home Rule League, Irish Socialist Republican Party, Irish Parliamentary Party, All-for-Ireland League, Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland), Irish Independence Party
• Isle of Man: Fo Halloo, Manx National Party
• Mercia: The Mercia Movement, Sovereign Mercia
• Wales: Cymru Fydd, Cymru Goch, Welsh Socialist Alliance, Welsh Republican Movement
• Isle of Wight: Vectis National Party

Yugoslavia

• Croatia (SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia)
• Ethnic group: Croats
• Political parties: Croatian Democratic Union, Croatian Party of Rights, Croatian Peasant Party
• Armed organizations: Croatian National Guard
• Events: Croatian Spring, War in Croatia
• Goals: Independence

Republic of Kosovo (AP Kosovo and Metohija, SR Serbia, FR Yugoslavia)

• Ethnic group: Albanians in Kosovo
• Political parties: Democratic League of Kosovo, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo, National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo, The People's Movement for Kosovo
• Armed organizations: Kosovo Liberation Army, Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo
• Events: Insurgency in Kosovo (1993–98), Kosovo War
• Goals: Larger autonomy (until 1989); Independence (1990–2003)

Preševo Valley (SR Serbia, FR Yugoslavia)

• Ethnic group: Albanians in south Serbia
• Events: Insurgency in the Preševo Valley
• Goals: Unification with Republic of Kosovo

North America

Antigua and Barbuda

• Political party: Antigua Labour Party

Belize

• Political party: People's United Party

Bahamas

• Abaco (defunct)
• Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)

British West Indies

• Political party: Caribbean League
• Secessionist entity: West Indies Federation

Canada

Secessionist

• Nova Scotia
  • Political: Anti-Confederation Party
• Ontario
  • Political: Ontario Independence League, Northern Ontario Heritage Party
• Quebec
  • Pressure group: Alliance Laurentienne, Chevaliers de l'Indépendance, Mouvement de Libération Nationale du Québec, Réseau de Résistance du Québécois
  • Political party: Mouvement Souveraineté-Association, Option citoyenne, Parti de la Democratie Socialiste, Parti indépendantiste, Parti nationaliste du Québec, Option nationale, Ralliement National, Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale, Union des forces progressistes, Parti québécois, Union Populaire, Québec solidaire
  • Rebel organization: Société des Fils de la Liberté, Frères Chasseurs, Comité de libération nationale (Quebec), Réseaux de résistance, Armée révolutionnaire du Québec, Front de libération du Québec
• Western Canada
  • Political: Unionest Party, Separation Party of Alberta, Alberta Independence Party

Autonomist

• Acadia
  • Political party: Parti Acadien
• Cape Breton Island
  • Political party: Cape Breton Labour Party
• the Maritimes
  • Political party: the Maritimes
• Ontario
  • Political party: Northern Ontario Heritage Party
• Quebec
  • Political party: Action démocratique du Québec

Costa Rica

• Political party: Independent Guanacaste Party

Dominica

• Political party: Dominica Labour Party

Guyana

• Political party: People's Progressive Party
• Political party: People's National Congress

Jamaica

Main article: Independence of Jamaica

• Political party: Jamaica Labour Party, People's National Party

Haiti

• Cacos (anti-US occupation)

Mexico

Secessionist

• California Republic
• Chan Santa Cruz
• Republic of Fredonia
• Republic of the Rio Grande
• Republic of Texas
• Republic of Yucatán
• Republic of Baja California
• Republic of Sonora

Nicaragua

• Ejército Defensor de la Soberanía Nacional (anti-US occupation)

Panama

• Kuna Revolution (Republic of Tule)

Trinidad and Tobago

• Political party: People's National Movement
• Political party: Tobago Organisation of the People

United States

• American Revolution
• Aztlán
• Confederate States of America
• New England's Secession Conventions of 1803, 1808, 1814, and 1843
• Republic of New Afrika
• State of Franklin, secessionist North Carolina western territory (1784–1789)
• For historic Texas separatist movements, see Mexico, above.

Puerto Rico

• Autonomist Party

Popular Democratic Party (PPD)

• Anti-Colonial National Liberation Movement

Puerto Rican Independence Movement

Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP)

South America

Argentina

• Patagonia
  • Proposed state: Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia

Brazil

• Rio Grande do Sul
  • Political party: Movimento da República Rio-Grandense
  • Proposed state: Riograndense Republic
• Santa Catarina
  • Political party: Frente de Libertação da República Catarinense
  • Proposed state: Juliana Republic
• São Paulo
  • Political party: Movimento República de São Paulo, Movimento São Paulo Independente, Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932, 1924 Paulista Revolt, 1887 Manifest, Acclaim of Amador Bueno.
  • Proposed state: Republic of São Paulo
• Parts of Pernambuco, Paraíba and Ceará
  • Proposed state: Confederation of the Equator

Chile

• Araucanía
  • Proposed state: Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia

Colombia

• Antioquia
  • Pressure Group: Political cadres linked to Medellín Cartel
• Caribbean Region
  • Pressure Group: Liga Costeña
• Isthmus Department
  • Political Party: Panamian Liberal Party
  • Proposed State: Republic of Panama
• Pasto Province
  • Rebel organization: Remnants of the Royalist army

Peru

• Loreto
  • Political party: Liga Loretana

Spanish America

• Logia Lautaro

Oceania

Australia

• Tasmania (Main article: Secessionism in Tasmania)
• Western Australia (Main article: Secessionism in Western Australia)

Fiji

• Political party: Alliance Party

Kiribati

• Political party: Gilbertese National Party

New Zealand

• South Island (Main article: South Island nationalism)
  • Political parties: South Island Party
  • Pressure group: Southern Separation League
  • Autonomous region: New Munster

Papua New Guinea

• Political party: Papua Besena
• Regional separatist movements: Highlands Liberation Front, Wahgi Tuale, Wok Meri or Kafaina

Samoa

• Protest movement: Mau movement

Solomon Islands

• Protest movement: Maasina Ruru

Vanuatu

• Political party: Nagriamel, New Hebrides Cultural Association, New Hebrides National Party, Vanua'aku Pati
• Religious movement: John Frum
• Parallel government: People's Provisional Government (PPG)

See also

• List of national liberation movements recognized by intergovernmental organizations
• List of historical unrecognized states