Myanmar army retakes key Shan State town ahead of elections

Kyaw Swar

Myanmar’s military says it has recaptured the strategic town of Kyaukme in northern Shan State, more than a year after it fell to ethnic rebel forces. The announcement, made via state media on Thursday, comes as the army intensifies operations ahead of national elections scheduled to begin on 28 December.

Kyaukme, located 115 kilometres northeast of Mandalay, sits on a vital trade route linking central Myanmar to China. Since August 2024, it had been under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance—an ethnic coalition that has long fought for autonomy from the central government.

According to the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper, the town was retaken on Wednesday afternoon following a three-week military campaign. Photographs released by the publication show soldiers stationed at key locations, with officials reportedly working to restore administrative functions and encourage displaced residents to return.

The TNLA has not formally responded to the claim, though a message posted on Telegram accused the military of using airstrikes and heavy artillery during the assault, setting government buildings ablaze and sparking clashes in surrounding villages.

The recapture of Kyaukme marks another shift in control following a series of China-brokered ceasefires earlier this year. These agreements slowed the rebel advance and enabled the army to reclaim Lashio in April and Nawnghkio in July.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance—which includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army—has held significant territory in the country’s northeast and west since launching coordinated offensives in late 2023. The group is loosely aligned with the People’s Defense Force, a pro-democracy movement formed after the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021.

Independent verification of the situation in Kyaukme remains difficult, as journalists are barred from freely accessing conflict zones.

Nonetheless, the military’s push to regain control of key towns signals its intent to consolidate power ahead of the upcoming vote.

-2025-10-03