The DKBA -known officially as the Karen Border Guard Force- worked primarily as an auxiliary force in Kayin State for the next 13 years until 2024, when tensions with the ruling military junta of Myanmar grew.

A Buddhist monk named U Thuzana had started a campaign in 1992 of constructing pagodas in Karen State, including at the KNU headquarters of Manerplaw.

As the KNU leadership would not grant permission for construction of the pagodas, claiming they would attract government air strikes, Thuzana began to encourage KNLA soldiers to desert the organisation.

[4][5][6] In 2010, DKBA soldiers split away from the organisation and renamed themselves the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army – Brigade 5 (DKBA-5), which was led by Bo Nat Khann Mway (Saw Lah Pwe).

[7][8][9][10] DKBA under the original name of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army reemerged under the command of Saw Kyaw Thet, a brigadier general who split away from DKBA-5.