Karen conflict

The Karen conflict is widely described as one of the world's longest-running civil wars, dating to 1949, shortly after Burma's independence from Britain in 1948. It pits the Karen National Union (KNU) and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), against the Tatmadaw (Myanmar's armed forces). The KNU originally sought an independent Karen state, often referred to as Kawthoolei, but later shifted its stated aim toward federal autonomy within Myanmar.

The conflict is concentrated in Kayin (Karen) State and adjacent areas along the Thai–Myanmar border. It has produced sustained displacement, including large refugee populations in camps along the Thai border such as Mae La, and significant internally displaced person (IDP) populations inside Myanmar. Human rights organizations have documented forced labor, village burning, and attacks on civilians attributed primarily to the Tatmadaw.

Key turning points include:

• 1995: Fall of the KNU headquarters at Manerplaw to Myanmar government forces.
• 1994–95: Split of the Buddhist-led Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) from the largely Christian-led KNU.
• 2012: A bilateral ceasefire between the KNU and the Myanmar government.
• 2015: The KNU was among eight ethnic armed organizations to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
• 2021: Following the February military coup, fighting intensified sharply, with the KNLA engaging the Tatmadaw and sheltering members of the post-coup civilian opposition and People's Defence Forces.

The Karen are a diverse group encompassing several subgroups (notably Sgaw and Pwo Karen) and multiple religions, and Karen armed politics has been fragmented across factions including the KNU, DKBA, and the Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council. The conflict remains unresolved, with renewed displacement into Thailand reported after 2021.