Since 1949, ethnic Karenni militias have waged a low-level insurgency in Myanmar's Kayah State, where they make up the majority of the population.

While intense clashes broke out between 2010 and 2012, they died down for the most part after democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi was elected in 2015.

[citation needed] In the city of Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, massive protests broke out on 8 February 2021, during the initial pushback to the coup.

[12][13] Many of the initial protests ended on 12 March, after several professors at Loikaw University were detained and tortured, although some strikes continued into April.

[16] A strike on 19 May increased tensions, and caused junta soldiers to be on alert and Loikaw and other formations to arrive in Demoso.

[18] Burmese junta soldiers began arresting civilians en masse, storming churches and monasteries.

[25] Local PDF in Loikaw began attacking municipal outposts in the city, preparing to launch an urban guerrilla campaign.

[27] In early June, residents of Loikaw stated that there was a shortage of fuel in the city, and that a curfew had been imposed on shopping between 5am and 9am.

Most residents of Demoso, Phruso, Mobre, and nearby villages also came to the city to buy goods, as it was impossible for daily life to exist in theirs.

[35] On 17 September, the junta launched an offensive into Loikaw from Pekon, in Shan State, and declared the suspension of the ceasefire.

[27] On 6 October, junta forces targeted an ambulance heading towards the Loikaw hospital, killing one person and injuring seven others.

[40] Small acts of civil disobedience were prevalent around this time, with people throwing grenades at junta-controlled administrative centers.

[41] On the morning of 22 November, junta forces raided a Catholic church's makeshift hospital in Loikaw, arresting 20 nurses.

[43] On 3 December, junta troops blocked off the road between Loikaw, Demoso, and Bawlakhe, in anticipation of a battle with the KNDF-PDF.

The official also claimed that the junta was preparing for an offensive, and part of the reason the roads were blocked was to root out possible KNDF fighters or supporters.

[47] On 6 January 2022, junta forces launched an offensive into Loikaw, although they were unable to push out KNDF and PDF that were embedded in the city's population.