Mites of the family Athyreacaridae are recorded from Africa for the first time. Four new species of Athyreacarus are described, A. africanus sp. nov., collected on the beetle Mimobolbus congolensis in Republic of the Congo, A. longisetus sp. nov., collected on a beetle Minobolbus sp. in Zaire and Bolbocaffer caffrum in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, A. reductus sp. nov. on a beetle Bolbocaffer caffrum in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and A. pseudoindicus sp. nov. on a beetle Mimobolbus sp. in Kenya and Ethiopia. An updated key to species of the genus Athyreacarus is provided.