Global attention turns as an ethnic Karen armed group makes a significant move by declaring the establishment of the " Kawthoolei Republic " and forming its own government amid ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
On 5 January 2026, the Kawthoolei Army (KTLA), a splinter group from the Karen National Union (KNU), announced it was elevating the "Kawthoolei Government" to a fully sovereign state, citing the collapse of Myanmar's central authority and the Karen people's right to self-determination.
The figure behind this declaration is General Neoda Mya, former supreme commander of the KNDO forces under the KNU, who founded KTLA in 2022 after being expelled from the organization due to allegations that forces under his command executed 25 civilians in 2021. He claimed those individuals were informants for the Myanmar military.
Origin of the Kawthoolei Republic
Kawthoolei is the ethnic Karen territory located in southeastern Myanmar, under the control and protection of the Karen National Union (KNU). Its main armed forces are the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO).
Following Myanmar's 2021 coup, the KNU expanded by integrating the People’s Defense Force (PDF), which, although led by Karen officers, includes many fighters from major central Myanmar cities, reflecting Kawthoolei's role as a key stronghold of opposition to the military government.
Although the exact size of Kawthoolei is unclear, KNU maps show it covering Karen State, parts of Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region, and northern Mon State.
While international media often label Karen forces as "rebels," the KNU rejects this term, asserting that the KNLA and KNDO are "legitimate armies" defending their own land and should not be considered rebels in their own country.
In November 2023, KTLA began forming the "Kawthoolei Government," which it officially elevated to the Kawthoolei Republic in early 2026, claiming it as the only option for the Karen people amid Myanmar's state collapse.
Parallel State Structure
According to KTLA's statement, the Kawthoolei Republic will have a full government with 16 ministries covering defense, interior, foreign affairs, finance, forestry, agriculture, mining, and public health. Its main leaders include:
President and Commander-in-Chief: General Neoda Mya
Vice President and Foreign Minister: Saw Sa Ge Po
Second Vice President: David Takabo
Prime Minister: Saw Po Tu Le
Defense Minister: David Law Du
KNU Denies Involvement, Cites Undermining Unity
The KNU issued a statement rejecting any connection to the Kawthoolei Republic declaration, describing KTLA as a splinter group that exacerbates the complexity of Karen politics and undermines the unity of the ethnic minority struggle.
The KNU reaffirmed its stance that the Karen people's struggle should aim for autonomy within a federal Myanmar rather than unilateral secession as a sovereign state.
The term "Kawthoolei" in Karen legend means "Land Without Darkness" or "Land of Flowers," symbolizing the Karen struggle for decades. The KNU has used this name administratively since the 1950s.
However, KTLA's declaration of the Kawthoolei Republic is seen as diverging from the KNU's path and reflects deeper ideological splits amid challenges faced by Karen State, including crackdowns on online scam gangs, the transition of BGF forces to KNA, and competing influences among various armed groups.
A New Country on the World Map or Another Breaking Point for Myanmar?
As Myanmar's civil war continues, the declaration of Kawthoolei as a sovereign state not only challenges the military government’s authority but also raises questions about the country’s overall stability. Whether this move marks the first step toward self-determination or further fragments the conflict remains uncertain.
The path to becoming a sovereign state or a new country on the world map is difficult, requiring international recognition. For now, Kawthoolei remains a declared state only in the vision of General Neoda Mya.
Source:DVB,Burma Insight