Northern Burma is currently the scene of violent clashes between the Burmese junta and armed ethnic groups. This conflict situation, which erupted after a coordinated attack by armed groups against army camps, endangers the stability of the region.
The ethnic groups, forming an alliance including the Taaung National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance, managed to take control of several strategic towns and roads near the Chinese border. This powerful alliance, capable of mobilizing around 15,000 fighters, represents a real threat to the Burmese army.
In response to the attack, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing promised “counter-offensives” and accused the Kachin Independence Army, another ethnic group operating in neighboring Kachin State, of attacked infrastructure and military camps. This escalation of the conflict risks leading to a spiral of violence and endangering the civilian population.
The situation also worries China, Burma’s main trading partner. With the loss of the border town of Chinshwehaw, China called for an immediate ceasefire, fearing for the security of its investments, including the TGV project in the region.
Armed ethnic groups, present in Burma’s border regions for many years, are fighting for political autonomy and control of natural resources. Some of them took advantage of the tense political situation after the 2021 coup to strengthen their ranks and carry out attacks against the army.
Clashes in the region have already displaced more than 6,000 people, according to the United Nations. It is crucial that measures are taken to protect civilian populations and put an end to this escalation of violence.
In conclusion, the situation in northern Burma is worrying. Clashes between the Burmese junta and armed ethnic groups risk aggravating regional tensions and causing considerable human and material losses. It is necessary for the international community to intervene to promote peaceful dialogue and end this cycle of violence.