Karen National Army


The Karen National Army, formerly the Karen Border Guard Force, is a primarily Karen Buddhist ethnic army active in Kayin State, Myanmar, which split off from the Myanmar Army in January 2024. The KNA was formed as the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army in December 1994 after the insurgent group split off of the Karen National Liberation Army. Shortly after, the DKBA signed a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar Army, officially joining the army as the Karen Border Guard Force alongside the Karen Peace Force in 2009. In January 2024, after intensified rebel operations throughout Myanmar, the Karen BGF began distancing itself from the ruling military junta, eventually splitting off from the Army and rebranding themselves the "Karen National Army" by April. They completed this transition on 1 January, 2026.

Tensions with junta and rebranding

After splitting away from the Tatmadaw, the KNA acquires revenue via taxation of gambling and scam businesses in Shwe Kokko and KK Park. However, shortly after the split, the KNA reportedly rejoined junta forces during the Siege of Myawaddy in April 2024.
On 1 January 2026, the KNA officially completed its transition to an independent group, with some BGF units transferring out. KNA officers claim that they will not involve themselves in fighting for either side, and will only focus on internal affairs in Karen State. Following the transition, the Tatmadaw announced that all KNA forces must leave Myawaddy by 26 January, creating fears that clashes may erupt in the nearby town of Shwe Kokko. Shortly after, on 12 January, the junta launched airstrikes on the KNA camps at Oodaung and Thaiktaw, Hpa-An District, injuring 4 KNA soldiers.

Assistance to the military regime during the Siege of Myawaddy

Multiple sources and analysts showed the KNA took control of Myawaddy after the junta's remaining troops from the 275th LIB retreated, and later facilitated the transfer of junta troops from their base to the 2nd Friendship Bridge. Jason Tower, the Myanmar director of the United States Institute of Peace, said KNA had been playing both sides and that it ultimately pivoted to assist the military regime, "leading to the photo op of the Myanmar flag once again being raised over the base".

Alleged criminality and U.S. sanctions designation

In May 2025 the United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control placed International Emergency Economic Powers Act sanctions on the KNA, Saw Chit Thu, and his two sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit. They are designated on two OFAC lists: the Transnational Organized Crime list established under, as well the list of individuals and groups "that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Burma."
The OFAC alleges that "the KNA profits from cyber scam schemes on an industrial scale by leasing land it controls to other organized crime groups, and providing support for human trafficking, smuggling, and the sale of utilities used to provide energy to scam operations". It further alleges that the KNA provides security for the KK Park "scam site".
On 8 September 2025, OFAC sanctioned 9 individuals and companies associated with the KNA for alleged involvement in supporting scam syndicates. Marco Rubio also labeled the KNA a transnational criminal organization.