CNI News

May 21, 2026

Naypyidaw released a statement declaring that the Myanmar Military has successfully gained control over the entire northern region of Chin State, following the recapture and stabilization of Tonzang Town on May 20.

The Chin National Front (CNF), CDF, and PDF forces had previously attacked and seized control of Tonzang Town on May 23, 2024.

Following that, the Myanmar Military regained control of Falam Town in Chin State on April 25, 2026, and launched an offensive on April 29 to recapture Tonzang Town.

During this offensive, military forces advanced and secured key areas sequentially: May 2: Thaing Gyin Junction, May 5: Kennedy Peak, May 9: Tedim Town, Forces then regrouped in Tedim Town to resume the offensive, capturing successive locations as follows: May 11: Point-1504, May 12: Maung Ken Village and Tualmu Village, May 14: Gam Ngai Village, May 16: Luang Zan Village and Bial Chin Village, May 17: Tonzang Village (Tanzang), May 19: Ton Htoung Village and Point-1985 Hill.

According to the statement from Naypyidaw, the Myanmar Military then achieved full control and completely captured Tonzang Town on May 20.

As a result, the Myanmar Military now controls the entire northern region of Chin State, including Hakha, Thantlang, Falam, Tedim, Tonzang, and Cikha towns.

Economic Impact: Due to these territorial gains, the Hakha–Falam–Tedim–Tonzang–Cikha route and the Kalay–Falam–Hakha route have been reopened. This allows commodity flows from the Sagaing Region to northern Chin State towns to resume normally, which is expected to lower commodity prices reasonably.

Tonzang Town, which the Myanmar Military recaptured on May 20, 2026, is a strategically important area for regional commodity flows and is vital for border trade with India.

Geographically, Tonzang Township is bordered by Tedim Town to the south, Kalay Town of the Sagaing Region to the east, and India's Manipur and Mizoram states to the north and west.