CNI New
30 October 2025
There are questions being raised about the meaning of the definition of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) plus the additional NCA+, which is being discussed between the Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for the cessation of armed conflict in Myanmar.
Political analysts suggest that NCA+ could mean extending an invitation to organizations that should rightfully participate in political dialogues, even if they have not yet signed the NCA, in order to overcome the current crisis.
Armed conflict has been ongoing in Myanmar since the country gained independence in 1948 until the present day. Various approaches have been taken for peace, such as exchanging weapons for peace, exchanging weapons for economic benefits, and building peace through holding arms. However, an agreement that could lead to the cessation of armed conflicts and the resolution of political issues was never successfully created.
Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson for the 7 EAO Alliance, told CNI News Agency that they used the abbreviation NCA+ to refer to a platform that allows relevant organizations to participate in political dialogues to overcome the current crisis, even if they have not yet signed the NCA.
Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt seen at an anniversary ceremony of the NCA
He said, "The peace processes and political dialogues included in our NCA have been stalled (since February 2021) until today. So, when considering how to restart these kinds of political dialogues, we looked beyond the conventional NCA path and thought of a platform where groups that haven't signed the NCA can participate in discussions. This is about making an effort to overcome the crisis, where in the political dialogues, in addition to the NCA signatories, we've abbreviated and used the term NCA+ to allow organizations that should rightfully participate to overcome the current deadlock, even if they haven't signed the NCA. To be frank, at the past ceremony, 7 NCA-signatory groups attended, and groups like 'Wa,' 'Mongla,' and SSPP, though not NCA signatories, were allowed to attend the conference we were holding. You could consider this a platform where they got to discuss and consult together."
The NCA agreement consists of 7 chapters and 33 clauses. This agreement is seen as the only possible way to amend Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution—which is otherwise difficult to change—and is also the agreement through which democracy and a Federal Union can be discussed and established.
Sai Htay Aung, Chairman of the Tai-Lai (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News Agency that NCA+ is an invitation to discuss outside the agreement, and the NCA path is the best way for national peace.
Sai Htay Aung seen at an anniversary ceremony of the NCA
He said, "NCA+ is not a new agreement. It is an invitation for groups that do not agree with the NCA to engage in discussions outside of the NCA agreement. I believe the NCA path is the best way for national peace. However, some armed organizations wish to amend or reform the NCA, and some clauses are already permitted for modification. As for a group like the 'Wa,' they do not follow the NCA path; they stand independently, but they are included in the negotiating group. Currently, there were 10 NCA signatories, but after 3 groups withdrew, 7 groups remain. The Naga group is known to have signed at the regional level, but I hear they have not yet reached the Union level."
During the government led by U Thein Sein, the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) came into existence. That agreement is considered the best and most respectable agreement in Myanmar's history of peace building until the present time.
