Ethnic minority fighters opposed to the junta in power in Burma announced on Saturday December 16 that they had taken the town of Namhsan, in the north of the country, two days after China’s announcement of a ceasefire obtained thanks to to his mediation.
Fighting has raged near the Sino-Myanmar border since the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched a joint offensive against the central military power.
The takeover of military positions and border points vital for trade with China by this alliance constitutes, according to analysts, the greatest military challenge posed to the junta since it took power in 2021, by the overthrow of the democratically elected government by Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Thursday, Beijing announced a ceasefire between the three-group alliance and the Burmese army. The TNLA announced the capture of Namhsan on Friday after launching an attack in the region more than two weeks ago.
Seven towns taken from the army since the end of October
“We took the city”Brigadier General Tar Bone Kyaw told Agence-France Presse, and the TNLA posted video footage on Facebook showing leaders of the group visiting the town and speaking to junta soldiers taken prisoner.
A Myanmar army spokesman, Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, told state television MRTV on Friday that fighting was continuing around Namhsan.
According to TNLA Brigadier General Tar Bhone Kyaw, the Myanmar army also lost an important trade corridor in Muse (Shan State), on the border with China.
In total, the alliance of three ethnic groups claims to have taken 422 bases and 7 towns from the Burmese army since October 27. Their offensive galvanized other opponents of the junta and clashes also occurred in the east and west of the country. More than half a million people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.