Askari is an Arabic and Swahili word meaning "soldier". It was frequently used to describe indigenous troops in East Africa and the Middle East serving European colonial powers but also describes policemen and security guards.

A good example of the use of Askaris was during the World War I campaign in German East Africa where around 1100 Askaris under the command of the German General Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck who were vastly outnumbered by troops of the British Empire remained unbeaten after four years of war.

In apartheid South Africa Askari was the term given to guerrillas who were captured by the South African army and 'turned' or converted into spies or killers for the former apartheid regime.