The Government of Myanmar has officially declared the Kayin National Union (KNU), along with its affiliated organizations and members, as both an unlawful association and a terrorist organization.

According to Notification No. 922/2025 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 28 August, the Acting President affirmed that the objectives and activities of the KNU pose serious threats to the rule of law, peace, stability, and well-being of the country and its people. Consequently, under Section 16 of the Unlawful Associations Act, the organization and its affiliates were declared unlawful.

On the same day, the Counter-Terrorism Central Committee, with the approval of the Union Government, also announced Notification No. 1/2025 under the Counter-Terrorism Law. The Committee stated that the KNU armed group has been conducting terrorist acts, including planting mines on public roads and bridges, attacking towns and villages with heavy weapons, carrying out air raids, killing civilians, forcibly recruiting members, and destroying State-owned property and infrastructure. These acts were deemed to pose grave threats to public safety, lives, and property.

With these declarations, the KNU has now been officially designated as both an unlawful association and a terrorist organization under Myanmar law.