The Shan State Army (Burmese: ရှမ်းပြည်တပ်မတော် - မြောက်ပိုင်း; abbreviated SSA or SSPP/SSA), also known as Shan State Army – North (SSA-N)[a] or Shan State Army/Special Region 3 (SSA/SR-3) is a Shan nationalist insurgent group in Myanmar (Burma). It is the armed wing of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP).[4]
| Shan State Army (SSPP) | |
|---|---|
| ပႃႇတီႇမႂ်ႇသုင်ၸိုင်ႈတႆး – တပ်ႉသိုၵ်းၸိုင်ႈတႆး | |
 Flag of the Shan State Army (SSPP) | |
| Dates of operation | 1971–present |
| Group(s) | Shan State Progress Party |
| Headquarters | Wan Hai, Kehsi Township, Shan State |
| Active regions | Shan State, Myanmar |
| Ideology | Shan nationalism Federalism |
| Size | 10,000+[1] |
| Allies |  Communist Party of Burma (1971–1991) Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (2024–present) Pa-O National Liberation Army (2024–present) Ta'ang National Liberation Army[2] |
| Opponents | State opponents:
Non-state opponents:
|
| Battles and wars | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
History
The Shan State Army was founded on 24 April 1964 and the Shan State Progress Party was founded in 1971 as the political wing of the SSA. In 1989, the SSPP signed a ceasefire in 1989 after negotiations with the State Peace and Development Council and was able to obtain a degree of autonomy for the areas under its control, establishing the Special Region 3 of the Shan State. This area included Nam Kham, Langkho, Hsipaw, Kyauk Mae, Mong Hsu, Tang Yang, Mongyai, Kehsi and Lashio Township. The size of the armed group at that time was of about 4.000 fighters. Even after having signed a ceasefire, the Burmese military continued to attack the Shan State Army (SSPP) areas.[5]
Although the SSPP/SSA is more conciliatory towards the government than other armed Shan separatist groups, in 2005 it abandoned its base rather than disarm.[6] At one point the Burmese government wished the Shan State Army (SSPP) to join its border guard force. Two of the three brigades reportedly agreed to join the border guard, while the other refused.
Renewed hostilities
In 2014 the group has clashed with the Burmese army in Kehsi Mansam Township, home to the SSPP/SSA Wanhai headquarters.[7]
Beginning on 6 October 2015 a large scale offensive by the Tatmadaw comprising 20 Burma Army battalions has been launched in central Shan State. The aim of the military is to seize Shan ceasefire territories in Kehsi, Mong Nawng, Mong Hsu and Tangyan townships, using heavy artillery and with fighter jet and helicopter gunship air support to indiscriminately shell and bomb civilian areas. These attacks have displaced thousands of Shan, Palaung, Lisu and Lahu people causing a new humanitarian crisis.[8][9]
2021–2024 Myanmar Civil War
On 30 November 2023, SSPP/SSA declared a truce with Shan State Army (RCSS), with the SSPP/SSA stating that they intended to unite in the future.[3]
On 20 February 2024, the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) announced that it and its armed forces will join forces with the anti-junta resistance forces, shifting from its formerly neutral stance towards the military coup.[10] Three days later, SSPP and allied troops captured a military base between Hopong and Mong Pan.[11]
Organisation
The SSPP/SSA originally had three brigades: the 1st, 3rd, and 7th brigades,[12] but two brigades, the 3rd and 7th, surrendered in 2009.