Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF)

Alliances

Karenni Army (KA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA), Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF), Demoso People’s Defense Force (DMO-PDF), Loikaw People’s Defense Force (LK-PDF), Hpruso People’s Defense Force (HPRUSO-PDF), Pekon People’s Defense Force (PK-PDF), Mobye People Defense Force (MB-PDF), Hpasawng People’s Defense Force (PPDF), Bawlakhe People’s Defense Force (BPDF), Falcon Wings Drone Force, Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA)

Political Organization

None

History in Brief

Established – ​​31 May 2021

Headquarters – Unknown

Areas of operation – Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, Hpasawng, Bawlakhe, Mese, and Shadaw in Kayah State (Karenni Area), and Pekon and Pinlaung Townships in Shan State.

Estimated strength – Over 10,000

Leadership – Khun Bedu (Chairperson), Maj Gen. Aung Myat (Commander-in-Chief), Maui (Deputy Commander-in-Chief), Khu Reedu (Adjutant-General)

The KNDF was established on May 31, 2021, by uniting the scattered People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) in Karenni State. While the KNDF was formed by uniting these PDFs, some remaining PDFs still operate in townships in Kayah State (Karenni Area), which are not united under the KNDF but which nevertheless operate as allies.

The KNDF’s organizational policy was drafted on June 7, 2021, and a steering committee was formed to set KNDF policies. KNDF members include former politicians, Karenni nationalist youth activists, university students, and middle-aged people working in various sectors.

They had participated in peaceful protests during the military coup. After the State Administration Council (SAC) violently suppressed and killed civilians, they undertook to overthrow the SAC through armed resistance and prepared to establish an armed force.

In March 2021, Karenni youth received military training from the Karenni Army (KA) and, in May, formed the Karenni State Army (KSA) with four battalions. On May 20, after a shooting incident in Daw Ngan Khar Ward, Demoso Township, unrest broke out. As there was a need for a military command and control system, the KSA and local PDFs joined forces to form the KNDF.

The KNDF began their resistance with local handmade guns and Tumee (a type of local homemade rifle). The KNDF and Karenni resistance forces fully captured Mese Town on the Myanmar-Thailand border on 24 June 2023. Then, during Operation 1111, they occupied Demoso, Mawchi, Shadaw, and Ywathit Towns and established administrative functions.

Mission and Objectives

The goals of the KNDF are:

— Overthrow of the military dictatorship through armed resistance and establish a federal democratic union

— Karenni national equality, unity, self-determination for the Karenni State, and development of the federal union as a member state

The five sworn statements of the KNDF are:

1. We will be loyal to all ethnicities in the country

2. We will be loyal to the fallen heroes and martyrs

3. We will fight until the end of the military dictatorship

4. We will fight for national equality, self-determination, and the emergence of federal democracy

5. We pledge to fight against all forms of dictatorship

Leaders and Central Committee Members

Khun Bedu is the Chairperson of the KNDF and the Vice Chairperson of the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC). Major General Aung Myat, Commander-in-Chief of the Karenni Army (KA), is also the Commander-in-Chief of the KNDF.

No	Name	Title
1	Khun Bedu	Chairperson
2	Maj. Gen. Aung Myat	Commander-in-Chief
3	Maui	Deputy Commander-in-Chief
4	Khu Reedu	Adjutant-general

Ceasefire and Peace Process

None

Organization Participation

The KNDF is a member of the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC).

The KSCC is a council formed by ethnic armed organizations, political parties, civil society organizations, and personal representatives to implement administrative, legislative, and judicial functions during the interim period of armed resistance to overthrow the military dictatorship.

The KSCC is working to form the interim Karenni State National Unity Government as well as to implement the state’s administrative, legislative, and judicial functions.

The KNDF is a member of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC).

The IEC is an organization formed to implement the administrative and judicial functions that were disrupted during the revolutionary and interim armed resistance periods. The IEC was formally established under the policy of the Karenni State Interim Arrangement and the political leadership of the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC).

The KNDF is also a member of the Spring Revolution Alliance (SRA), which was formed by 19 member organizations following a three-day conference on November 21, 2025. In addition to the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), other organizations in the alliance include 96 Soldiers PDF, Bamar Army (BA), Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), Bamar Liberation Democratic Front (BLDF), Chin Brotherhood (CB), Danu People’s Liberation Front (DPLF), Force for Federal Democracy (FFD), Kalay Region Revolutionary Force (KRF), Magway People’s Defense Force (MAGWAY PDF), Gen Z Army (GZA), Sagaing People’s Defense Force (SAGAING PDF), National Liberation Army (NLA), People’s Liberation Army (PIA), Pa-O National Defence Force-Kham Koung / Pa-O People’s Defense Force (Kham Dom) (PNDF-KK) / (PPDF-KD), Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), Student Armed Force (SAF), Yaw Army (YA), and Yaw Defense Force (YDF).

Political and Military Stance since the Coup

The KNDF is a new ethnic armed organization that has emerged since the military coup on 1 February 2021. The KNDF has stated that it aims to resit the SAC and the military dictatorship until it falls, and to continue discussions on building a new federal democratic union in the future after the fall of the current military dictatorship. 

Liaison Offices

None

Brigades

The KNDF is composed of 27 battalions and 8 strategic divisions. Brigades have not yet been formed.

Contact Information

Telegram: https://t.me/KNDF_official 

Phone: 09 49572931, 09 425517594

Last Updated – Dec 2025