Myanmar army secures key Mandalay–Myitkyina road

The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military has regained full control of the strategic Mandalay–Myitkyina Highway, reopening a vital supply route into Kachin State after months of heavy fighting.

The corridor, which stretches from Madaya and Thabeikkyin up to the Kachin border, had been contested for more than a year. Resistance forces held several sections until a series of offensives gradually pushed them back. In March, the army retook Tagaung, Myataung and Tigyaing, followed by Katha, Indaw and Nabar in April. The final breakthrough came on 5 May with the capture of Mawlu in Sagaing Region.

The regime announced on Thursday that the road is now open for civilian use, though resistance sources say the operation relied heavily on air strikes, drones and large numbers of conscripts. The highway is considered crucial for transporting troops and supplies to the Northern Command in Kachin, and its recapture effectively blocks resistance access to Shwegu and Bhamo.

Frontline sources believe the military’s next targets will be Kachin Independence Army (KIA) positions in Bhamo, Mansi and Momauk. Control of the corridor allows the regime to reinforce its presence around Bhamo and potentially cut off routes to the KIA headquarters in Laiza.

Analysts warn the KIA faces mounting pressure. “From Namsi Awng northwards, Mohnyin, Hopin and Myitkyina are already under army control,” one political observer told The Irrawaddy. “With the corridor reopened, eastern territories along the Irrawaddy River are now exposed.”

Military defectors argue the move has severed coordination between resistance groups in Sagaing and Kachin. Reinforcements and munitions can now flow more easily into embattled areas such as Hpakant and Kamaing, threatening KIA Brigade 8 in Mohnyin.

KIA spokesman Naw Bu acknowledged the regime’s advances but cautioned against assuming imminent defeat. He said the army must still secure positions along the Sagaing–Kachin border before launching deeper offensives.

The Mandalay–Myitkyina corridor is one of several key routes linking central Myanmar to the north. While the highway is now firmly under military control, rail lines via Shwebo remain contested, with resistance forces active along parts of the route.

The recapture underscores the regime’s determination to consolidate its grip on northern Myanmar, setting the stage for further clashes in Kachin State.

-2026-05-11