![]() | This article needs to be updated.(November 2023) |
The following is a list of non-state armed groups involved in the internal conflict in Myanmar, officially called ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) by the government of Myanmar.[1]
The term "ethnic armed organisation" (Burmese: တိုင်းရင်းသား လက်နက်ကိုင် အဖွဲ့အစည်း) emerged in Myanmar during the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement negotiations from 2013 to 2015.[2] Various other terms, including "ethnic organisation", "ethnic resistance force", and "ethnic rebel group" have also been used to describe ethnic armed organisations. These organisations typically:
Name | Abbreviation | Founded | Strength | Headquarters | Location | Affiliations | Notes |
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AA | 2009 | 15000+(claimed in May 2024)[3]
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Laiza |
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AA (Kayin) | 2010 | 350 (2024)[6] | Mobile headquarters | Kayin State |
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ABSDF | 1988 | 600 (2016)[7] | Manerplaw (until 1995)[8] | Joined the CRPH / NUG after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état[9] | ||
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ALA | 1968 | 100 (2024)[10] | Sittwe | Armed wing of the Arakan Liberation Party |
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ARA | 2020 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | |||
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ARSA | 2013 | ~200 (2018)[12][13] | Mobile headquarters |
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BPLA | 2021 | 1,000+[15] | Mobile headquarters | Eastern Myanmar | Co-founded by activist Maung Saungkha | |
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CNA | 1988 | 1,500+ (2024)[16] | Camp Victoria[17] | Chin State |
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Joined the CRPH / NUG after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état[19] |
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CNDF | 2021 | Unknown | Falam | Chin State | Armed wing of the Chin National Organisation[20] | |
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CDF | 2021 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | |||
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DKBA-5 | 2010 | 2,000+ (2024)[10][21][22] | Sonesee Myaing | Armed wing of the Klohtoobaw Karen Organization[10] |
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KDA | 1991 | 2,850 (2020)[23] | Kawnghka | Shan State |
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KIA | 1961 | 20,000 (2018)[25] | Kachin State, northern Shan State |
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Holds and governs territory in Kachin State[26] | |
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KLO | 1995 | Unknown | Taga, Sagaing (until 2019)[27] | Part of the UNLFW | Based in India and operates in Assam and West Bengal | |
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KNA | 2024 | 7,000+[28] | Shwe Kokko[29] | Kayin State |
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KNDO | 1947 | Unknown | Affiliate of the Karen National Union | |||
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KNLA | 1949 | 15,000 (2021)[32] |
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Broke its commitment to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état | ||
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KA | 1949 | 1,500 (2012)[33] | Nya Moe[34] | Kayah State |
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KNPLF | 1978 | 2,000[35] | Pankan | Kayah State |
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KNDF | 2021 | 7,000+[36] | Mobile headquarters | |||
Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup | KYKL | 1994 | Unknown | Mobile Headquarters | Sagaing Region | Part of CorCom | |
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KCP | 1980 | ~112 (2012)[39] | Mobile Headquarters | Sagaing Region | Part of CorCom | |
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KNLP/A | 1964 | 200–300 | Pekon |
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Armed wing of the Kayan New Land Party |
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KTLA | 2022 | Unknown | Kayin State | Broke away from the Karen National Union July 2022[40] | ||
KNU/KNLA Peace Council | KPC | 2007 | 500+ (2024)[10][41] | To-kawko | Kayin State | Not affiliated with the KNU or KNLA, despite its name | |
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KNA(B) | 1988 | 200+ (2016)[42] | Mobile headquarters | Armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation | Based in India and operates in Manipur | |
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KCNA | 2017 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | Armed wing of the Kuki-Chin National Front |
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LDU | 1973[44] | 1,500 (2024)[10] | Loi Lan[10] | Shan State |
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MNLA | 1958 | 1,000+ (2024)[10][48] | Ye Chaung Phya | Armed wing of the New Mon State Party | Signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2018, along with the Lahu Democratic Union[45][46][47] | |
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MNLA-AMD | 2024 | 300[10] | Unknown | Mon State | Armed wing of the New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship) |
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MNDAA | 1989 | 6,000[49] | Mobile headquarters | Shan State (Kokang) |
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MRDA | 2022 | 1,000+[50] | Pale | Sagaing Region | Formerly known as the Myanmar Royal Dragon Army | |
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NDAA | 1989 | 3,000[51]–4,000[21] (2016) | Mong La | Shan State | Split from the Communist Party of Burma after its dissolution | |
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NLA | 2023 | Unknown | Tamu Township | Sagaing Region (Tamu Township) | Formerly the PDF Tamu Battalion 3 | |
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1980 | <500 (2016)[52] |
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Part of the UNLFW |
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New Democratic Army – Kachin |
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1989 | 700 (peak)[55] | Pangwa | Kachin State | Signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in 1989 and transformed into a Border Guard Forces in 2009 | |
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PNA | 1949 | 4,000 (2023)[56] | Taunggyi | Shan State | Armed wing of the Pa-O National Organisation |
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PNLA | 2009 | 1,000+ (2024)[10][21][57] | Camp Laybwer | Armed wing of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation | Split into a pro-peace talk and anti-junta faction in January 2024[10] | |
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2021 | 100,000 (2024 est.)[58] | Armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG) |
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PDF (Kalay) | 2021 | Unknown | Kalay | Sagaing Region | Part of the People's Defence Force | |
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PLA | 2021 | Unknown | Armed wing of the Communist Party of Burma | The Communist Party of Burma rearmed itself and announced the creation of its new armed wing, the People's Liberation Army, in late 2021.[59][60] | ||
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PLAM | 1978 | 3,800 (2008) | Manipur | Part of CorCom | ||
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PRA (Magway) | 2021 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | |||
People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak | PREPAK | 1977 | ~200 (2012)[63] | Mobile headquarters | Sagaing Region | Part of CorCom | |
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RSO | 1982[64] | Unknown |
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SNA | 2016 | 1,000+ (2019)[66] | Mobile headquarters | Kachin State | Allies with the Shan State Army (RCSS) and the Tatmadaw | |
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SSPP/SSA | 1971 | 10,000 (2023)[67] | Wan Hai | Shan State |
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Signed ceasefire with Tatmadaw |
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RCSS/SSA | 1996 | 8,000 (2024)[10] | Loi Tai Leng |
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Split from the Mong Tai Army in 1995 | |
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LEM/LNDP | 2013 | 100 (2022)[68] | Myitkyina | Kachin State | Armed wing of the Lisu National Development Party |
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SAF | 2021 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | |||
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TNLA | 1992 | 8,000-10,000 (2024)[49] | Mobile headquarters | Shan State |
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Governs the Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone |
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ULFA-I | 1979 | 200 (2024) | Taga, Sagaing (until 2019)[27] | Part of the UNLFW |
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UNLF | 1964 | 2,000 | Manipur | Part of CorCom |
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UWSA | 1989 | 25,000 (2015)[71] | Pangkham | Shan State |
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Governs the Wa Self-Administered Division (Wa State)[72] |
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WNA | 1969 | 200 (1998)[73] | Homein | Shan State |
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Signed a peace agreement with the government in August 1997 |
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ZRA-EC | 1997 | 3,000 (2016)[21] | Churachandpur | Armed wing of the Zomi Revolutionary Organisation |
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Name | Abbreviation | Founded | Disbanded | Strength | Headquarters | Location | Affiliations | Notes |
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Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front | ARIF | 1986[75] | 1998 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | |||
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NDFB | 1986 | 2020 | 3,000+ | Taga, Sagaing (until 2019)[27] | Part of the UNLFW |
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Communist Party of Arakan | CPA | 1962 | 2004 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | Rakhine State | Split from the Red Flag Communist Party | |
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CPB | 1939 | 1989 | 6,000[76] | Pangkham (until 1989) | Shan State | Armed wing dissolved in 1989 | |
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DKBA | 1994 | 2010 | <5,000[21] | Mobile headquarters | Kayin State |
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God's Army | 1997 | 2006 | 500[77] | Mobile headquarters | Myanmar–Thailand border | Surrendered to government forces in 2006 | ||
Mongko Region Defence Army | MRDA | 1995[78][79] | 2000 | Unknown | Mongko | Split from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army | ||
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MTA | 1985 | 1996 | 20,000 | Homein | Surrendered to the government in 1996 | ||
Monland Restoration Army | MRA | 2001 | 2012 | 100–300[80][81] | Sangkhlaburi | Armed wing of the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party | Surrendered to government forces in 2012 | |
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None | 1947 | 1954 | 2,000 | Mayu | Rakhine State | Majority of fighters surrendered to the government in the late 1950s and early 1960s | |
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RFCP | 1948 | 1978 | 500[82] | Mobile headquarters | Shan State | Split from the Communist Party of Burma | |
Rohingya Liberation Party | RLP | 1972 | 1974 | 800–2,500[83][better source needed] | Mobile headquarters | Rakhine State | Insurgents fled across the border into Bangladesh after a massive military operation by the government in July 1974 | |
Rohingya National Army | RNA | 1998 | 2001 | Unknown | Cox's Bazar | Armed wing of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) | ||
Rohingya Patriotic Front | RPF | 1974 | 1980s | 70[83] | Mobile headquarters | Rakhine State | ||
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SSA | 1964 | 1976 | 1,500 | Mobile headquarters | Shan State |
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SSNA | 1995 | 2005 | 8,000 (peak)[84] | Hsipaw | Shan State | Merged with the Shan State Army – South in 2005 | |
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SURA | 1960 | 1996 | Unknown | Homein |
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VBSW | 1999 | 2013 | Unknown | Mobile headquarters | Myanmar–Thailand border |
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The rebels are seeking greater autonomy within Burma for ethnic Kachins who have had de facto control over a part of northern Burma for more than 50 years.
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The best such example comes from the United Wa State Army (UWSA), an armed ethnic organisation that has established de facto control over a portion of Northeastern Burma.