Early in the fighting, Karen forces overran much of northern Burma including towns such as Mandalay and established strong positions outside Rangoon at Insein Township.

[14] But lacking a port from which to receive military supplies, the Karen forces gradually withdrew to the southeast of Burma.

[16] A group calling itself the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, led by the former KNLA brigade 7 commander Brig-Gen Htay Maung (Htein Maung), broke away from the KNLA in February 2007, and organised a peace talk as well as a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military government without the approval of the KNU central committee.

In November 2010, following the general election of 2010, large parts of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army are alleged to have mutinied and re-aligned themselves with the KNLA, resulting in the escalating conflict with junta troops.

[20] The KNLA, along with its parent organisation the KNU, signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government of Myanmar on 15 October 2015, along with several other insurgent groups.

On 27 March 2021, KNLA Brigade 5 overran a Myanmar Army base near the Thai border, killing 10 soldiers including a deputy battalion commander.

[22][23] On 27 April 2021, the KNLA captured a Myanmar Army base along the Salween river, bordering Thailand's Mae Sam Laep sub-district.

[24][25] On 9 September 2021, KNLA Brigades 3 and 5 captured a Myanmar Army camp in Kyaukkyi Township in Bago Region.

After anti-Muslim riots flared in Mawlamyine, Mon State in August 1983, refugees formed the Kawthoolei Muslim Liberation Front.

[28] According to CIA reports, the SLORC military regime accused the KMLF of killing residents of Yangon's Kyimyindaing Township in November 1983 and July 1984.

[29] Fraction between Sunni and Shia sects led to the formation of the All Burma Muslim Liberation Army in 1985.