List of insurgent groups in Myanmar

This is a list of insurgent groups in Myanmar (also known as Burma). They are officially known as ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) by the government of Myanmar.[1]

Cadets from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) preparing for military drills at the group's headquarters in Laiza, Kachin State.

Active combatants

Name Abbreviation Founded Strength Headquarters Location Affiliations Notes
Arakan Army (Kachin State) AA (Kachin) 2009 3,000[2]–7,000+[3] Laiza Chin State,[4] Kachin State,
Rakhine State,
Shan State,
Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Arakan Army (Kayin State) AA (Kayin) 2010 100[5]–350+ Mobile headquarters Kayin State Armed wing of the Arakan National Council
Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army ARSA 2013 ~200[6][7] Mobile headquarters Rakhine State,
Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Claimed responsibility for attacks on Burmese border posts along Myanmar's border with Bangladesh in 2016 and 2017.[8] Previously known as Harakah al-Yaqin.
Kachin Independence Army KIA 1961 10,000–12,000[9] Laiza,
Pajau (until 2005)
Kachin State Holds and governs territory in Kachin State.[11]
Kuki National Army KNA(B) 1988 200+[12] Mobile headquarters Chin State,
Sagaing Region
Armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army MNDAA 1989 2,000[13]–4,000[14] Mobile headquarters Shan State
  • Armed wing of the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party
  • Part of the Northern Alliance
Split from the Communist Party of Burma after its dissolution.
Shanni Nationalities Army SNA 2016 1,000+[15] Mobile headquarters Kachin State Allies with the Shan State Army - South and the government of Myanmar.
Ta'ang National Liberation Army TNLA 1992 1,500[16]–3,500[17] Mobile headquarters Shan State Governs the Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone.
Zomi Revolutionary Army ZRA 1997 3,000[2] Churachandpur Chin State,
IndiaMyanmar border
Armed wing of the Zomi Revolutionary Organisation Only minor skirmishes in Myanmar.

Ceasefire groups

Name Abbreviation Founded Ceasefire Strength Headquarters Location Affiliations Notes
All Burma Students' Democratic Front ABSDF 1988 2015[18] 600[19]–1,000[20] Manerplaw (until 1995)[21] MyanmarThailand border,
IndiaMyanmar border,
China–Myanmar border
Arakan Liberation Army ALA 1968 2012, 2015[18] 60–100[22] Sittwe Kayin State,
Rakhine State
Armed wing of the Arakan Liberation Party Close allies with the Karen National Union
Chin National Army CNA 1988 2012, 2015[18] 200+[23][20] Hakha Chin State
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army - Brigade 5 DKBA-5 2010 2011 1,500+[2][24] Sonesee Myaing Myawaddy Township, Kayin State Formerly part of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army until 2010.
Karen National Defence Organisation KNDO 1949 2012, 2015[18] Unknown Lay Wah,
Manerplaw (until 1995)[21]
Kayah State,
Kayin State
Affiliate of the Karen National Union
Karen National Liberation Army KNLA 1949 2012, 2015[18] 5,000[25][20]–7,000[26] Lay Wah,
Manerplaw (until 1995)[21]
Kayah State,
Kayin State,
Tanintharyi Region
Karenni Army KA/KNPP 1949 2005, 2012 500[20]–1,500[26] Nya Moe[27] Kayah State
KNU/KNLA Peace Council KPC 2007 2015 <200[28] Tokawko Kayin State Not affiliated with the KNU or the KNLA, despite its name.
Lahu Democratic Union LDU ???? 2018 ???? Mobile headquarters Shan State Signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2018, along with the Mon National Liberation Army.[29][30][31]
Mon National Liberation Army MNLA 1958 1995, 2012, 2018 800+ (2,000–5,000 reserves)[32] Ye Chaung Phya Mon State,
Tanintharyi Region
Armed wing of the New Mon State Party Signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2018, along with the Lahu Democratic Union.[29][30][31]
National Democratic Alliance Army NDAA-ESS 1989 1989, 2011 3,000[33]–4,000[2] Mong La Shan State Split from the Communist Party of Burma after its dissolution.
National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSCN-K 1980 2012 <500[34] Mobile headquarters Sagaing Region (Naga Self-Administered Zone),
IndiaMyanmar border
The NSCN-K signed a ceasefire with India in 2001[35] and Myanmar in 2012.[36]
Pa-O National Liberation Army PNLA 2009 2012 400+[2][37] Camp Laybwer Shan State,
MyanmarThailand border
Armed wing of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation
Shan State Army - North SSA-N 1971 1989, 2012 8,000[2] Wan Hai Shan State
Shan State Army - South SSA-S 1996 2012, 2015 6,000[26]–8,000[2] Loi Tai Leng Shan State,
MyanmarThailand border
Split from the Mong Tai Army in 1995.
United Wa State Army UWSA 1989 1989, 2011 20,000[38]–25,000[39] Pangkham Shan State Armed wing of the United Wa State Party Currently governs the Wa Self-Administered Division (Wa State) as a de facto military junta.[40]
Wa National Army WNA 1969 1997 200[20] Homein Shan State Signed a peace agreement with the government in August 1997.

Defunct groups

Name Abbreviation Founded Disbanded Strength Headquarters Location Affiliations Notes
Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front ARIF 1986[41] 1998 Unknown Mobile headquarters Rakhine State,
Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Communist Party of Arakan CPA 1962 2004 Unknown Mobile headquarters Rakhine State Split from the Red Flag Communist Party (RFCP).
Communist Party of Burma CPB 1939 1989 6,000[42] Pangkham (until 1989) Shan State Armed wing dissolved in 1988 by the Burmese government.
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army DKBA 1994 2010 <5,000[2] Manerplaw (until 1995) Kayin State Signed a ceasefire agreement shortly after its formation in 1994; disbanded in 2010. Split from the Karen National Union.
God's Army 1997 2006 500[43] Mobile headquarters MyanmarThailand border Surrendered to government forces in 2006.
Kachin Defense Army KDA 1961 2010 1,500[44] Kawnghka Shan State Originated as the Kachin Independence Army's 4th brigade.
Karenni National People's Liberation Front KNPLF 1978 2009 4,000[45] Pankan Kayah State Split from the Karenni Army. Signed a ceasefire agreement in 1989 and transformed into a BGF in 2009.
Mongko Region Defence Army MRDA 1995[46][47] 2000 Unknown Mongko Shan State,
China–Myanmar border
Split from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army.
Mong Tai Army MTA 1985 1996 20,000 Homein Shan State,
MyanmarThailand border
Surrendered to government forces in 1996.
Monland Restoration Army MRA 2001 2012 100–300[48][49] Sangkhlaburi Mon State,
Tanintharyi Region
Armed wing of the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party Surrendered to government forces in 2012.
Mujahideen None 1947 1961 2,000 Mayu Rakhine State Majority of fighters surrendered to government forces in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
New Democratic Army - Kachin NDA-K 1989 2009 700 (peak)[50] Pang Wa Shan State Signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in 1989 and transformed into a BGF in 2009.
Pa-O National Army PNA 1949 1991 Unknown Taunggyi Shan State Armed wing of the Pa-O National Organisation Disbanded in 1991 and became a political party. Currently governs the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone.
Red Flag Communist Party RFCP 1948 1978 500[51] Mobile headquarters Shan State Split from the Communist Party of Burma (white flags).
Rohingya Liberation Party RLP 1972 1974 800–2,500[52] 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 Rakhine State,
Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Armed wing of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO)
Rohingya Patriotic Front RPF 1974 1980s 70[52] Mobile headquarters Rakhine State
Rohingya Solidarity Organisation RSO 1982[53] 1998 Unknown Rakhine State,
Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Mainly active in the 1990s; militarily defunct by 1998. Alleged by the Tatmadaw to have had connections with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Shan State Army SSA 1964 1976 1,500 Mobile headquarters Shan State Formed the basis for the Shan State Army - North and Shan State Army - South. Fought other insurgent groups such as the Communist Party of Burma.
Shan State National Army SSNA 1995 2005 8,000 (peak)[54] Hsipaw Shan State Merged with the Shan State Army - South in 2005.
Shan United Revolutionary Army SURA 1960 1996 Unknown Homein Shan State,
MyanmarThailand border
Majority of insurgents surrendered to government forces in 1996. 800 insurgents under the command of Yawd Serk would go on to form the Shan State Army - South.
Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors VBSW 1999 2013 Unknown Mobile headquarters MyanmarThailand border Since 2013, no insurgent or terror related activity has been attributed to the VBSW, suggesting that it may be inactive or that it may have been disbanded following political reforms in Myanmar.[55] The group gained notoriety in October 1999 by raiding and holding hostages at the Burmese consulate in Bangkok, Thailand.

Military coalitions

Name Abbreviation Founded Headquarters Members Notes
Federal Union Army FUA 2011 Chiang Mai Armed wing of the United Nationalities Federal Council[56]
Northern Alliance NA-B 2016 Laiza

See also

References

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  • Myanmar Peace MonitorNGO based in Chaing Mai, Thailand that monitors Myanmar's ongoing peace process.
  • Pyidaungsu Institute – Political institute based in Chaing Mai, Thailand focused on achieving political stability and peace in Myanmar.
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