Alliances
United Wa State Army (UWSA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Arakan Army (AA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The UWSA and NDAA are strong allies, with close ties due to both the proximity of the two territories they control as well as shared historical context. The UWSA’s forces also jointly operate with the NDAA along the border where the NDAA and the Tatmadaw are facing off.
Organization Name
National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)
Armed Force
National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)
Political Organization
Peace and Solidarity Committee (PSC)
History in Brief
Established – 30 June 1989
Headquarters – Mongla
Areas under control – Mongla region, Silu region, Nampan region in eastern Shan State
Estimated strength – 5,000 or more
Leadership – Htein Lin (Chairperson), San Pae (Vice Chairperson), Sam Lu (Vice Chairperson), Kyi Myint (Secretary).
The NDAA is an ethnic armed organization that broke away from the Communist Party of Burma. On 19 April 1989, Sai Leun, the commander of the CPB’s Military Region 815, split the military region he was leading from the CPB and established the NDAA.
On 30 June 1989, the NDAA signed a ceasefire agreement with the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and gained full control of the Nampan, Silu, and Mongla regions, formerly known as Military Region 815. The military government designated the three regions under the NDAA as the Shan State Special Region (4).
Special Region (4) is located on the Myanmar-China border, 120.5 km from the city of Jinghong and 28 km from Menghai County, both in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and 54 km from Liancheng District, in Pu’er Prefecture. Special Region (4) faces the Mekong River and has a 62-mile-long riverbank. A port called Sop Lwe has been built in the Nampan region, which can accommodate cargo ships of up to 500 tons. Some of the cargo ships passing from Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, to ports in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, China, transit at Sop Lwe, and the NDAA receives transit and cargo handling fees. The NDAA also operates rubber and mineral production businesses within the territory they administer.
Areas under NDAA administration are also key areas for connecting projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, NDAA-administered areas are not included in any details in formal agreements between China and Myanmar. The NDAA-administered region is also a key buffer zone between the northern and southern regions of the UWSA. In addition, Sai Leun’s wife is the daughter of Peng Jiasheng, the founder of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), so the MNDAA and NDAA are not only allied but also strongly tied by kinship.
While the NDAA has full control over areas under its administration, the central government has not granted legal territorial designation to the NDAA. The General Administration Department still lists Mongla region as part of Kengtung District, Nampan region as part of Mongyawng Township, and Silu region as part of Mongyang Township. Therefore, the NDAA is demanding that their territory be legally recognized as a self-administered zone or a region in the constitution.
The NDAA is also an ethnic armed organization that seeks to amend the 2008 constitution. On 8 August 2024, Sai Leun, who founded the NDAA and Special Region (4), passed away and was succeeded as Chairperson by Htein Lin, previously one of two Vice Chairpersons. Htein Lin is Sai Leun’s eldest son.
Mission and Objectives
Information not yet available
Leaders and Central Committee Members
| No. | Name | Position |
| 1 | Htein Lin | Chairperson |
| 2 | San Pae | Vice Chairperson |
| 3 | Sam Lu | Vice Chairperson |
| 4 | Kyi Myint | Secretary |
Ceasefires and Peace Process Participation
First Peace Agreement – 30 June 1989
State-level Peace Agreement – 7 September 2011
Union-level Peace Agreement – 2 December 2011
Organization Participation
NDAA is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is led by the UWSA.
Political and Military Stance since the Coup
The NDAA maintained relations with the State Administration Council (SAC) after the military coup. They did not formally oppose the coup. The SAC sent a high-ranking delegation to meet with NDAA leaders in March 2021. The NDAA sent a delegation to attend the 75th Union Day ceremony held by the SAC in Naypyitaw on 12 February 2022. The NDAA has attended meetings convened by the SAC’s National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee and continued to hold political discussions.
Although the NDAA has no formal alliance with the National Unity Government (NUG), the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), the Local Defense Forces, or any ethnic-based resistance forces that have emerged since the coup, it has established various political relations with these organizations.
Liaison Offices
Yangon, Taunggyi, Keng Tung, Tachileik, and Mandalay
Brigades
The NDAA operates four brigades.
| No. | Brigade | Areas of operation |
| 1 | Headquarters Brigade | Mongla town (where the headquarters are located) |
| 2 | Brigade 986 | Throughout the Mongla region |
| 3 | Brigade 369 | Throughout the Silu region |
| 4 | Brigade 911 | Throughout the Nampan region |
Contact Information
Website: www.4tzx.com
