| Karen National Army | |
| Native Name: | ကရင်အမျိုးသားတပ်မတော် |
| War: | the Internal conflict in Myanmar |
| Active: | 11 January 2024–present |
| Leaders: | Colonel Saw Chit Thu |
| Predecessor: | Karen Border Guard Forces Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Karen Peace Force |
| Headquarters: | Shwe Kokko[1] |
| Area: | Kayin State |
| Size: | 7,000+[2] |
| Allies: | State allies |
| Opponents: | |
| Battles: | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
The Karen National Army, (Burmese: ကရင်အမျိုးသားတပ်မတော် ; abbreviated KNA) formerly the Karen Border Guard Force (Karen BGF), 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 (DKBA) 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 (Karen BGF) alongside the Karen Peace Force in 2009.[1] In January 2024, after intensified rebel operations throughout Myanmar, the Karen BGF began distancing itself from the ruling military junta,[5] eventually splitting off from the Army and rebranding themselves the "Karen National Army" by April.[6]
After splitting away from the Tatmadaw, the KNA acquires revenue via taxation of gambling and scam businesses in Shwe Kokko.[7]
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".[8]