State media says Tonzang and Mawtaung were retaken in May after year-long rebel control; analysts cite China-brokered ceasefires and conscription surge, but independent confirmation is lacking as fighting continues in Chin and Tanintharyi.
Edited by St. Ginth Haokip, Kukilamd Express Desk
Moreh: May 22, 2026
Myanmar’s military government announced it has reclaimed two border towns of strategic importance from ethnic armed groups, signaling renewed momentum in the country’s prolonged civil conflict. The towns, Tonzang near the Indian frontier and Mawtaung on the Thai border, had been held by resistance forces for months. State media framed the operations as part of a broader campaign to restore central authority over contested regions where armed opposition has controlled territory since the 2021 coup.
According to a Thursday report in the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper, army units retook Tonzang on May 20 after a 10-day offensive. The publication shared images of soldiers positioned in front of the township’s administrative offices and other government buildings. Just a day earlier, the same outlet reported that Mawtaung, a key trading gateway with Thailand, was recaptured on May 19 following two weeks of sustained military action. Both towns are considered critical for cross-border commerce and security.
Tonzang lies roughly 15 miles east of the Indian border in northwestern Chin State. It had been under the control of an alliance of Chin ethnic militias and local resistance fighters since May 2024. Mawtaung, located about 390 miles southeast of Yangon in the Tanintharyi region, was previously administered by the Karen National Union and allied resistance groups. The military claims that after more than 200 clashes around Mawtaung, it recovered the bodies of 24 KNU fighters and seized weapons and ammunition. It also acknowledged casualties among its own forces.
Military analysts note that the army has regained ground since mid-2025, aided by China-mediated ceasefires with some northern groups and a surge in recruitment following conscription orders. The recapture of these towns comes a month after junta leader Min Aung Hlaing extended a fresh invitation for peace talks with armed resistance organizations. However, major ethnic armies have largely dismissed previous negotiations as lacking credibility while fighting continues.
Chin State and Tanintharyi have been among the most volatile areas since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021. The crackdown on peaceful protests that year drove many civilians to take up arms, transforming large parts of Myanmar into active conflict zones. Control of border towns like Tonzang and Mawtaung is significant because they influence trade routes, refugee movements, and the ability of resistance groups to access supplies and sanctuary across neighboring borders.
Independent verification of the military’s claims remains difficult due to severe reporting restrictions and limited access to conflict zones. The Karen National Union and other resistance groups had not publicly responded to the reports at the time of publication. While state media has portrayed the recaptures as decisive victories, observers caution that territorial control in Myanmar’s borderlands often shifts rapidly, and regaining towns does not necessarily translate into stable governance or an end to insurgent activity.
