The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) was founded in northern Shan State on October 25, 1960. On January 1951, the Kachin Independence Council was formed as the governing body. They intended to get justice through politics, but it was not possible, so on February 5, 1961, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) was established. According to the structure, there are three central organizations, namely KIO, KIA, and KIC, and the highest authority is KIO.

The purpose of the KIO/KIA is to build a new union that uses a federal union system based on achieving autonomy and self-determination; ensuring equality for all ethnic groups, access the separation of power and resource sharing.

The chairman of the KIO and KIC was General N'Ban La, and the deputy chair is Lt. General Sumlut Gun Maw, and the Commander-in-Chief of the KIA is General Gunhtang Gam Shawng.

In 1994, it was able to sign a ceasefire agreement with the junta, and the KIA administrative apparatus was divided into four districts, which were East, West, North, and South. KIA has 10 brigades and Brigades 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8 are operating in Kachin state, and Brigades 4, 6, and 10 are operating in Northern Shan State.

On Jun3 9, 2011, there was a renewed clash with the military. It was a leading representative in the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and participated in the drafting of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), but it did not participate in the signing of the NCA on October 15, 2015.

In 2016, UWSA was the chairman and KIA was the deputy Chairman (2) in FPNCC-Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee.

It is also the organization that condemned the SAC after the coup in 2021. The KIA has been cooperating with the National Unity Government (NUG) on political issues, as well as providing military training to the People's Defense Forces (PDF)

In Kachin State and Northern Shan State, the KIA is fighting with the SAC, and in the Sagaing Region, the border of Kachin and Sagaing, and Putao township, KIA is conducting joint military operations with the PDF.