{{Short description|Ethnic armed organisation in Myanmar}} {{distinguish|text= the Kuki National Army or the Karen National Army}} {{infobox war faction | name = Kayan National Army | native_name = {{lang|my|ကယန်းအမျိုးသားတပ်မတော် }} | war = Internal conflict in Myanmar | image = Flag of the Kayan people.svg | caption = Flag of the Kayan National Army | active = {{Start date|2024|10|29}} – present | ideology = Federalism<br/>Democracy<br/>Minority rights<br/>Kayan Nationalism | partof = | clans = | leaders = Khun Saungdu<ref name=irrkna> [https://www.irrawaddy.com/in-person/interview/new-ethnic-army-hopes-to-represent-all-kayan-people.html/ New Ethnic Army Hopes to Represent All Kayan People]. Saw Lwin. November 6, 2024. The Irrawaddy</ref> | headquarters = Pekon Township, Shan State | area = Demoso Township<br/>Loikaw Township<br/>Pekon Township | size = | predecessor = | successor = | allies = '''State Allies''' * {{flagdeco|Myanmar}} National Unity Government{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} '''Non-state allies''' * {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Karenni_Army.png}} Karenni Army * {{flagicon image|Karenni National People's Liberation Front flag.png}} Karenni National People's Liberation Front * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force.svg}} Karenni Nationalities Defence Force * {{flagicon image|KNLPflag.jpg}} Kayan New Land Army * {{flagicon image|Flag of PDF Myanmar.svg}} Local PDFs * {{flagicon image|Flag of PDF Myanmar.svg}} People's Defence Force | opponents = {{flag|Myanmar}} (SAC) * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Myanmar Armed Forces.svg}} Tatmadaw ** {{army|MYA}} *** {{flagicon image|Mm-eastern-rmc.svg}} Eastern Command ** {{flagicon image|Flag of the Myanmar Police Force.svg}} Myanmar Police Force ** {{flagicon image|Flag of Myanmar.svg}} Pyusawhti militias | battles = Internal conflict in Myanmar * Myanmar civil war (2021–present) | website = | founder = }} The '''Kayan National Army''' ({{langx|my|ကယန်းအမျိုးသားတပ်မတော် }}; abbr. '''KNA''') is an armed ethnic Kayan paramilitary group formed from a merger of once-independent smaller guerrilla groups,
==Origins and objectives== The KNA was established to unify smaller Karenni anti-junta forces established after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat. After overthrowing the State Administration Council junta, the KNA plans to serve as a transitional armed force for a future Karenni state that will encompass areas such as Mobye, Loikaw, Demoso, Pekon, and Pyinmana.<ref name=irrkna/><ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGR51KrLU0Y Myanmar: Kayan National Army forms to fight military junta] November 4, 2024. Radio Free Asia {{Webarchive|url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/LGR51KrLU0Y|date=November 9, 2024}} </ref>
The KNA is reportedly backed by the Kayan New Land Party, which helped establish the KNA as a specifically Kayan ethnic army, in conflict with the inclusive KNDF.<ref>{{cite news |title=Revolution on the Fence |url=https://ispmyanmar.com/revolution-on-the-fence/ |work=ISP Myanmar |date=28 February 2025}}</ref>
==Relationships with other armed groups== Some Karenni people criticized the formation of the KNA as multiple other Karenni anti-junta militias are still active. KNA leadership responded that they will cooperate with groups fighting against the military regime. <ref name=knarfab> [https://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/kayan-national-army-10292024140039.html ကယန်းအမျိုးသားတပ်မတော် ဖွဲ့စည်း]. Radio Free Asia. October 29, 2024</ref><ref name=Moemakakna> [https://moemaka.net/eng/2024/10/formation-of-the-kayan-national-army-kna/ Formation of the Kayan National Army (KNA)]. MoemaKa: Burmese Community News. October 31, 2024</ref> U Aung San Myint (a party secretary of the Karenni Army's political wing, the Karenni National Progressive Party) also assured that the KNA's formation will not hamper anti-dictatorship efforts.<ref> [https://mpapress.com/news/55761/ KNPP Asserts Kayan National Army Formation Will Not Disrupt Unity or Anti-Dictatorship Movement] Shine Bu Chay. Myanmar Pressphoto Agency. November 8, 2024 {{Webarchive|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20241109224102/https://mpapress.com/news/55761/|date=November 9, 2024}}</ref>
While the KNA recognizes the authority of the National Unity Government of Myanmar, they are not part of the NUG MOD. Nonetheless, the KNA stated that they will not force Karenni Local PDFs to join them.<ref name=irrkna/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Insurgent groups in Myanmar}}
Category:2024 establishments in Myanmar Category:Military units and formations established in 2024 Category:Ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar Category:Karen history