UNSC – Myanmar Ethnic Crisis Under Secretary General: Zeynep Beril Karartı Myanmar ethnic crisis — Insurgencies have been ongoing in Myanmar since 1948, when the country, then known as Burma, gained independence from the United Kingdom. it has largely been an ethnic conflict, with ethnic armed groups fighting Myanmar’s armed forces, the  Tatmadaw for  self determination. Despite numerous ceasefires. and the creation of autonomous self administered zones in 2008, armed groups continue to call for independence, increased autonomy, or federalisation. It is the world’s longest ongoing civil war, spanning almost eight decades.