The world today hosts 10 active rebellions that keep the globe on edge. While it’s true that we’re living in a far more peaceful era than most of our ancestors, the number of conflicts among states and non-state actors has only been increasing since the end of the Second World War. Much of that violence could be attributed to insurgencies and rebel groups fighting against trained, professional state armies, resulting in widespread violence and atrocities against civilian populations.

Understanding the 10 Active Rebellions

10 Kashmir Insurgency

Since December 1989, India has been fighting a persistent insurgency in its northernmost Kashmir region. It’s a long-standing conflict that began with the kidnapping of the daughter of an Indian government official, and has been largely limited to the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. 

The rebellion got triggered due to a number of factors, like political grievances against the Indian state and demands for self-determination by the local Kashmiri population. It’s also a geo-politically disputed region, with the entirety of it claimed by both the countries. 

While the insurgency has dialed down a lot compared to its most intense days during the 1990s, it’s still an ongoing conflict. Some reports suggest that currently, at least a dozen armed separatist groups are active in the region, compared to about 400,000 Indian troops stationed in the state. The rebellion has been marked by occasional-but-intense violence, particularly by Indian security forces against civilians.

9 Shabaab Insurgency

Al-Shabaab is an Islamic militant group active in Somalia. Since 2006, its members and other affiliated groups have been waging a bloody insurgency against Somalia’s government. It began after the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) – a body of local, clan-based Islamic courts in southern Somalia allied with al-Shabaab – was defeated and ousted by Ethiopian forces in late 2006. 

The group initially gained support by exploiting social grievances and clan rivalries within the country, along with the instability caused by the lack of a functioning central government. Since its beginning, the rebellion has attracted both local and foreign fighters, including members of the terrorist group called al-Qaeda. The conflict also involved the peacekeeping African Union Mission in Somalia – or AMISOM – sanctioned by the UN Security Council in 2007.

While AMISOM and Somali forces have managed to reclaim a few territories from al-Shabaab in recent years, the insurgency remains active and the group continues to carry out attacks across southern and central Somalia. 

8 FARC

The FARC insurgency, short for Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is one of the longest-running rebellions in Latin America’s history. It began in 1964 with its foundation as a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group seeking to overthrow the Colombian government, owing to factors like socioeconomic inequalities, land disputes, and widespread political exclusion of the workers in rural areas.

Over the years, the Colombian government, supported by the United States, has launched a series of military campaigns against the group, though it remains strong and active in many areas. The conflict has also involved a number of paramilitary groups associated with the Colombian right-wing. While the conflict was thought to be over with the signing of an official peace agreement in 2016, splinter groups continue to resist government forces in many areas of the country.  

7 OLA Insurgency

The OLA – or Oromo Liberation Army – insurgency in Ethiopia has been ongoing since at least 1974, when it mounted its first failed revolution against the Ethiopian government. Their stated aims were self-determination and independence for the Oromo people – the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia that has also traditionally faced marginalization at the hands of the Ethiopian government and military forces. 

While the group has been officially designated as a terrorist group by the state, much of the violence during the conflict has been perpetrated by Ethiopian security forces and allied militia groups. The rebellion has been marked by widespread violence, including attacks on government officials and infrastructure, and extra judicial violence against civilians suspected of aiding the rebels. Currently, the insurgency is limited to the regions of Ethiopia with a significant Oromo population.

6 Myanmar Rebellion

The insurgency and eventual civil war in Myanmar was triggered by the military coup that took place in February, 2021. It was carried out by the military junta that overthrew the democratically elected government of Myanmar and elected their own leader to the top office, namely Myint Swe. 

The insurgency has its roots in decades of struggle against state rule by local groups, along with the country’s tumultuous history since its independence from the British empire in 1948. The war has since involved a number of actors, including ethnic armed groups, student activists, civil society organizations, and other pro-democracy protesters from various walks of life.  

As of now, the insurgency is limited to certain regions of Myanmar where ethnic conflicts are already prevalent, with the military junta – or the Tatmadaw – in control of most of the country’s territory. 

5 Islamic State Insurgency In Afghanistan

ISIS showed up in the Khorasan region of Afghanistan in 2015, when a group of local militants pledged allegiance to the global Islamic State and began an insurgency against the government in Kabul. The group is mainly active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also operates in other regions of Central Asia. 

The rebels are mainly recruited from former Taliban cells dissatisfied with the Taliban leadership, or its peace negotiations with the Afghan government. It’s an ongoing insurgency, as Islamic State militants from the region continue to carry out sporadic attacks across Afghanistan and Pakistan. Despite active military operations by Afghan and Pakistani forces to neutralize the group, it remains a major threat to the stability of Afghanistan and the larger central and south Asian region.

4 Sudanese Civil War

The first Sudanese Civil War began in 1955, a few months before its independence from British colonial rule. Despite decolonization, the country remained divided on racial and ethnic lines, especially between the ruling Arab muslims from the north and the African Christians and other groups in the south and west. The conflict ultimately resulted in two separate civil wars spanning more than five decades.

Groups involved in the fighting include the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and its political wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), along with several other smaller factions. While the violence had largely subsided with the conclusion of the second civil war in 2005, ethnic and political tensions remained. In April, 2023, fighting between rival factions of the military government resulted in another civil war that’s still ongoing, with casualty numbers increasing constantly as we speak. According to reports from June, 2023, more than 100,000 people have been displaced due to the current round of violence.

3 Kurdish Insurgency

The Kurdish insurgency in Turkey began in 1984, when the PKK – or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party – announced a popular uprising to oppose the Turkish state. The underlying causes include cultural and political discrimination against the Kurdish minority in Turkey, which had been ongoing for many decades before the start of the conflict. The PKK seeks to achieve self determination and greater autonomy for the traditional Kurdish regions through armed struggle, leading to the decades-long conflict against Turkish security forces. 

The insurgency has been fought by various groups over the years, including the PKK and its affiliates, as well as government forces and extremist paramilitary groups. According to some estimates, the conflict has so far claimed the lives of over 40,000 people, with no clear resolution in sight. Its current status is ongoing, with occasional flare-ups seen in southeastern Turkey in recent years. 

2 M23 Insurgency

The March 23 movement – also known as the M23 insurgency – began in Congo in April 2012, when former members of the Congolese army picked up arms and mutinied against the government. The primary issues were political and economic grievances, including corruption, marginalization of certain ethnic groups, and poor working conditions for soldiers. The group was initially led by Bosco Ntaganda – a former general who has since been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.

The insurgency has seen the involvement of many different parties, including the government and military forces of Rwanda and Uganda, who have been accused of providing support to the rebels by the UN. The group’s goal was to overthrow the Congolese government and establish a separate state in eastern Congo, though the conflict led to widespread violence and displacement of civilians in the entire region. While M23 declared a ceasefire in November 2013 and signed a peace agreement with the government, the conflict restarted in November, 2021, when M23 militants took over large parts of the North Kivu region and forced more than 800,000 people out of their homes.

1 Houthi Rebellion

The Yemen Civil War, also called the Houthi Rebellion, began in 2014, when Houthi rebels took control of the country’s capital, Sanaa, and took over the government and military infrastructure. The conflict has its roots in long-standing issues, including political instability, economic hardship, and widespread discontent among the local population, especially the Houthi tribe. 

The situation has been further complicated by the presence of multiple actors, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, and other armed groups. The rebels are backed by Iran, while Yemen’s government forces are supported by a coalition of countries led by Saudi Arabia. 

The insurgency and ensuing civil war has caused a major humanitarian crisis in the country. According to latest figures by the UN refugee agency, about four million people have been internally displaced by the conflict that has claimed the lives of close to 377,000 people since 2015.

From prison gangs and extortion rackets to neo‑Nazi cells, the United States hosts a wide spectrum of criminal groups and organizations. Though they rarely dominate headlines, these 10 notorious gangs continue to pose a serious challenge to the nation’s security forces, boasting membership figures that rival those of sizable multinational corporations.

10 Notorious Gangs Overview

10 Jewish Defense League

The Jewish Defense League has been labeled by the FBI as a far‑right terrorist organization. Founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane, its proclaimed mission was to shield Jews worldwide from anti‑Semitic hostility. The group’s ideology blends Jewish nationalism, territorialism, and a willingness to employ force against perceived enemies. Over the decades, the JDL has been accused of numerous violent acts, ranging from bombings and assassinations to extortion schemes.

Primarily active in the United States and Israel, the JDL first entered the public eye during the 1970s with a series of high‑profile attacks targeting Arab interests both domestically and abroad. Its staunch opposition to the Soviet Union stemmed from the plight of Soviet Jews barred from emigrating to Israel. Despite a relatively modest size, the organization managed to attract a sizable following within the Israeli‑American Jewish community, thanks largely to its aggressive tactics.

9 13

Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS‑13, emerged in Los Angeles during the 1980s as a protection group for Salvadoran refugees. What began as a community safety network soon morphed into a brutal criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and a host of other illicit activities. Today, the gang operates across the United States as well as in El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

The gang captured national attention throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, notorious for its ruthless use of machetes and other melee weapons against rivals. Although MS‑13 is relatively small in the U.S., with an estimated 6,000‑10,000 members, its Central American affiliates may swell to as many as 60,000 participants.

8 Vice Lords

Vice Lords Nation was founded in Chicago in 1958 as a community‑based effort aimed at helping African‑American residents overcome poverty and discrimination. Over time, the organization evolved into one of the nation’s largest criminal syndicates, maintaining chapters in virtually every major city and many smaller towns.

The gang’s operations span the Midwest and the South, with membership estimates ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 regular and associate members. Designated a criminal organization by the federal government, the Vice Lords have weathered numerous high‑profile arrests yet remain a powerful force, especially in Chicago.

7 Barrio Azteca

Originating as a prison gang within the El Paso correctional system in 1986, Barrio Azteca—also known as Los Aztecas—has expanded to include roughly 3,000 members across the United States and about 5,000 in the Juárez region of Mexico. Though not massive in size, the group has earned a reputation for extreme violence that frequently spills over the U.S.–Mexico border.

By the early 2000s, Barrio Azteca allied itself with the Juárez Cartel in a bloody conflict against the Sinaloa Cartel. While law‑enforcement actions, including the capture of leader Eduardo Ravelo, have weakened the organization, recent reports suggest a resurgence, particularly in Juárez, where the gang continues to engage in drug smuggling, money laundering, and extortion.

6 Mongols Motorcycle Club

The Mongols Motorcycle Club, founded in Montebello, California during the 1970s, has become a notorious outlaw biker group with a strong presence throughout the Pacific and Southwest United States. Chapters are spread across California, Nevada, Arizona, and additional states, and the club’s membership is predominantly Hispanic, though it also welcomes riders from other ethnic backgrounds.

The Mongols rose to infamy in the 1980s and 1990s, engaging in violent confrontations, most famously a 2002 shootout with rival Hells Angels members in Las Vegas. Despite multiple law‑enforcement crackdowns, the club persists, maintaining ties with Hispanic street gangs throughout Los Angeles and beyond.

5 Crips And Bloods

The Crips and Bloods are two rival street gangs that originated in Los Angeles. While the exact origins are debated, the Crips emerged around 1971 as a neighborhood protection group, prompting the formation of the Bloods in response to the Crips’ growing influence. Both groups have since evolved into expansive criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, and murder.

The rivalry between the Crips and Bloods has sparked countless violent clashes over the years, driven by territorial disputes, reputation, and personal vendettas. Both gangs are instantly recognizable by their distinctive colors, hand signs, and graffiti tags.

The criminal enterprises of the Crips and Bloods have inflicted severe harm on the communities they infiltrate, often endangering innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Despite ongoing law‑enforcement initiatives, the two gangs continue to pose a major public safety challenge in many urban areas of Los Angeles.

4 Latin Kings

Latin Kings were established in Chicago during the 1960s, initially composed mainly of Mexican and Puerto‑Rican youths. The gang has since become involved in a wide array of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, burglary, homicide, identity theft, money laundering, and high‑profile assassinations of law‑enforcement officers across the United States.

The organization first attracted media attention in the 1980s and 1990s, linked to numerous murders and other violent crimes in Chicago. With more than 160 chapters and an estimated 20,000‑35,000 members nationwide, the Latin Kings rank among the largest gangs in the country, maintaining a strong foothold in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.

3 Gangster Disciples

Black Gangster Disciple Nation—later shortened to Gangster Disciples—originated in Chicago during the 1960s as a merger between two rival groups led by Larry Hoover and David Barksdale, known as the Black Disciples and Supreme Gangsters. The organization is predominantly African‑American and engages in drug trafficking, extortion, and murder.

While the Gangster Disciples maintain a significant presence in the Midwest, especially Chicago and Detroit, they have also spread to the East Coast and the Southern United States. Recent estimates place their membership between 25,000 and 50,000 individuals across the nation.

2 Aryan Brotherhood

The Aryan Brotherhood began as a white‑supremacist prison gang formed in reaction to race wars with rival black gangs. Over the years, it has grown into one of the most feared criminal entities in the United States, with members often displaying Nazi‑style tattoos and other fascist symbols.

Although the group’s primary activities occur within prison walls, Aryan Brotherhood members also operate on the streets, participating in drug trafficking, extortion, and other violent crimes. While smaller than gangs such as the Mexican Mafia, the Brotherhood remains a potent force in the underworld.

Law‑enforcement agencies have long pursued the Aryan Brotherhood, but its rigid hierarchy and fierce loyalty make infiltration difficult. High‑profile arrests and lengthy prison sentences have been secured against its leaders, yet the organization continues to exert influence across multiple regions of the country.

1 Mexican Mafia

Also known as La Eme or Los Carnales, the Mexican Mafia ranks among the largest prison gangs in the United States, with a presence in more than 13 states. Established in 1957 in Southern California by former street gang member Luis Flores, many early members were leaders of Hispanic street gangs in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

Today, the organization operates both inside and outside the U.S. prison system, engaging in robbery, extortion, assault, murder, and drug trafficking. Estimates suggest that the gang has roughly 350‑400 members incarcerated in U.S. prisons, complemented by tens of thousands of foot soldiers operating on the streets throughout California and beyond.