CNI News

13 September 2025

In Hopin Town, Mohnyin Township, Kachin State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been recruiting soldiers by detaining local residents and asking ransoms from those who want to be released, according to locals.

In recent days, more than 50 residents from a cockfight event in Wekone Ward, Hopin, were arrested by a joint force of KIA/PDF to be conscripted as soldiers, people close to the detainees said.

“Last Saturday around 3 p.m., when the cockfight area was crowded, they came and arrested people. Over 50 were taken. They said it was because they needed soldiers, but if you pay money, they would release you.”, said a resident.

Entrance to Hopin Town

Currently, those arrested are said to have been taken to Nanyin and Sein Lone Taung, locals reported.

Later, the KIA/PDF joint forces demanded about 5–6 million kyats per person for release. While some who could afford to pay were freed, the majority who could not afford the ransom are still being held, locals added.

Locals explained that due to the ongoing clashes between KIA/PDF joint forces and the Tatmadaw in Kachin State and Sagaing Region, the need for soldiers has significantly increased, leading to more frequent forced recruitment.

CNI News

13 September 2025

The People’s Defense Force (PDF) in the Naga region of northern Sagaing Region has been supplied with weapons by the National Unity Government (NUG), according to a statement released by the Naga Region PDF Special Task Force on September 11, 2025.

The NUG reportedly provided 25 firearms to the group, and the arms handover ceremony was held on March 18, 2025.

Records and photos indicate that NUG Defense Minister U Yee Mon, along with officials of the Sagaing Region PDF, attended the ceremony. However, the specific location where the event took place was not disclosed.

Currently, several Naga armed groups are active in Myanmar’s Naga region, including NSCN-K/AM, NSCN-K/YA, NSCN-IM, NSCN-IM/HS, NNC, ENNO/ENDA, and NPDF as well as Meitei armed groups.

CNI News
13 September 2025

The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) announced on September 11, 2025, that it will provide support and assistance for the upcoming general elections planned to be held in Myanmar.

In its statement, the group expressed its belief that the current conflicts in Myanmar cannot be resolved through military means, but only through dialogue and negotiation.

“The upcoming general elections to be held by the National Security and Peace Commission are an opportunity for citizens to choose their representatives who will lead the way for reform and the country’s future. Therefore, we will do our utmost to support and assist the people in this process.”, said in the statement.

According to the Union Election Commission (UEC), the first phase of the elections will be held on December 28, 2025, across 102 townships. Among them, three townships in Karen State—Hpa-an, Myawaddy, and Thandaunggyi—will also hold elections.

The DKBA is one of the Karen armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). It is currently engaged in peace efforts in cooperation with the National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee (NSPNC).

The group is based in Karen State, with its headquarters located at Sonseimyaing in Myawaddy Township. It is also active in areas including Hpa-an Township, Myawaddy Township, Myainggyingu village and Sonseimyaing village, and in Mon State’s Kyaikmaraw Township.

The DKBA was formed in 1994 after splitting from the Karen National Union (KNU).

CNI News
13 September 2025

The Union Election Commission (UEC) told CNI News that it will carry out the upcoming election process in accordance with the laws so that only qualified representatives can enter the Hluttaw.

The UEC said that for the general election scheduled to be held on December 28, 2025, candidate qualification requirements have been prescribed to ensure that only capable Hluttaw representatives will be elected.

“The representatives who are elected during the election will be the ones who will have to take part in legislative affairs for the State and for their respective regions/states. Such individuals must be competent persons. They must be able to serve for the benefit of the people and the public interest. The Union Election Commission will act in line with the prescribed laws to ensure that qualified representatives can enter the Hluttaw.”, the UEC stated.

The UEC has stipulated that candidates contesting in the upcoming elections must have, at minimum, an upper secondary level of education, and must hold a degree from a government-recognized university or college.

However, there are criticisms that the rules and regulations set by the UEC may be limiting the participation of political parties in the election and that such candidate qualification restrictions effectively block free participation when compared with democratic principles.

“In order to make it easier for political parties to establish and register, we have amended the Political Parties Registration Law and related bylaws, relaxing some requirements. Currently, there are 57 registered political parties. All of them must act in line with the provisions set forth in the Political Parties Registration Law and bylaws, as well as the Election Laws and bylaws for the relevant legislatures. The Commission continues to meet with political parties as appropriate and to address their submissions in accordance with the law.”, The UEC responded.

On September 9, 2025, the UEC announced the dissolution of four political parties — the National Democratic Force (NDF), the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP), the Women’s Party (Mon), and the Union Farmers and Workers Force Party — due to failure to meet the required membership numbers and office requirements.

Among these four, the NDF, DNP, and the Women’s Party (Mon) had registered to contest nationwide. As a result, out of the nine parties that had registered to contest nationwide, only six remain.

Those six are: Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by U Khin Yi, People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), led by Dr. Thet Thet Khine, People’s Party (PP), led by U Ko Ko Gyi, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), led by Sai Aik Pao, Myanmar Farmers Development Party (MFDP), led by U Kyaw Swar Soe and National Unity Party (NUP).

Among these, if any party fails to contest in at least half of the total constituencies (417 out of 833) or fails to submit the required number of candidates, it may also face dissolution.

CNI News
13 September 2025

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission) met with leaders from China, Russia, North Korea, India, and other countries during gatherings in China, and political analysts are debating whether this could be an opportunity for Myanmar.

During his trip to China from August 31 to September 3, the Chairman held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Indian Prime Minister Modi, Russian President Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

He also met Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Indonesian President Prabowo, the ASEAN Secretary-General, Kazakh President, and other world leaders.

Although these meetings could bring certain opportunities, they are not expected to result in major breakthroughs yet, said U Khun Sai, who is involved in peace-related activities, speaking to CNI News.

Meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

“Although Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was invited, it doesn’t mean he was given extra special attention. Still, Myanmar is undeniably important for China as its gateway to the Indian Ocean, so in one way or another, China will always value it. Min Aung Hlaing, in turn, seems to be working hard to make the most out of this for his own benefit. But ultimately, what he needs to do is ensure that the election is held. If he can make that happen, he could gain more support.Another strong point for him is that he continues to stand on the Three Main National Causes established since Senior General Than Shwe’s time, which he has officially declared. For neighboring countries, this represents a stable stance they can rely on. On the other hand, the opposition has not declared such a position, and that is a weakness. So, they will need to work on turning weaknesses into strengths.”, he explained.

From August 31 to September 1, 2025, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China as one of Myanmar’s leaders.

On September 3, he joined the military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the global war against fascism, where he also met with other world leaders.

U Thein Tun Oo, Executive Director of the Thayninga Institute of Strategic Studies Group, told CNI News that this situation could allow Myanmar to become more active and significant in the new international order.

Meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

“In Beijing, the focus was on uniting regional and neighboring countries. The problem is that after Donald Trump came to power in the United States, new tariffs and restrictions were imposed on other countries. That led many to feel that the U.S. was deliberately pressuring them. Some of these countries refused to accept such pressure and started seeking collective answers to how they could cooperate more closely on the world stage.
With such cooperation growing stronger, Myanmar will also benefit in the future by improving its relations with other countries. Another key point is Myanmar’s international image. In the past, ‘international stage’ usually referred only to Western Europe and North America. But now a new global stage is emerging. On that new stage, Myanmar could be more active and play a more significant role.”, he said.

It is learned that countries including China, India, and Laos expressed their support for the upcoming Myanmar elections during this trip. Myanmar also discussed joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a member state and signed agreements on China-Myanmar-India economic cooperation.

Talks included: Restoration of the Ledo Road, Restarting the Myitsone hydropower project, Purchasing electricity from Laos, Reviving China-Myanmar border trade India-Myanmar mineral extraction cooperation, Strengthening security cooperation.

CNI News

12 September 2025

Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, Chairperson of Yangon Watch Group, told CNI News that if the number of political parties competing at the union level in the upcoming general election in Myanmar is low, it will be difficult to gain international recognition.

Myanmar is scheduled to hold a general election on December 28, 2025. Nine political parties had registered to compete nationwide. However, the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on September 9, 2025, that four of those parties were dissolved for not meeting the required number of 50,000 members and for not opening 110 party offices.

The dissolved parties are the National Democratic Force (NDF), the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP), the Women's Party (Mon), and the Union Farmers and Workers Force Party. Among these four parties, the NDF, DNP, and Women's Party (Mon) were registered to compete nationwide.

"If you talk about a multiparty democracy and there are only three or four parties that can compete at the union level, it's very difficult for the international community to recognize it," said Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin of Yangon Watch Group.

The UEC's dissolution announcement for four political parties.

She continued, "The officials at the UEC, as well as political leaders and state leaders, should seriously consider this issue. If there are only three or four parties that can compete at the union level, it will be very difficult for the international community to recognize it. Therefore, state leaders and UEC officials should reconsider. If you talk about a multiparty democracy, there should be at least 10 major parties competing at the union level. If more parties are dissolved for not having enough candidates, there won't be more than three or four parties left to compete in this election. From the perspective of international observers, this doesn't look good."

On August 20, the UEC issued a directive for political parties to submit proof of having met the required number of party members and offices by September 7, 2025, in accordance with subsections 5(c) and 5(g) of the Political Parties Registration Law.

Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin told CNI News that the UEC's laws are too strict given the current political situation.

Political parties

"The UEC's laws regarding these parties are too strict given the current political situation. In reality, the country's situation doesn't allow political parties to open offices. Landlords are afraid to rent their rooms to political parties due to security concerns. So, it is very difficult to get 110 offices. For example, parties like the National Unity Party (NUP) and the USDP don't have this problem because they have had offices for a long time. The political parties have consistently requested the UEC to relax the rules for new parties. If they don't get enough candidates, there are still more political parties that could be dissolved. The UEC should give them more time. The political parties should also unite and collectively appeal to the Election Commission on this matter," she said.

Out of the nine parties that registered to compete nationwide in the December 28, 2025 election, only six remain. The remaining parties are the USDP, led by U Khin Yee; the PPP, led by Dr. Thet Thet Khine; the PP, led by U Ko Ko Gyi; the SNDP, led by Sai Aik Paung; the MFDP, led by U Kyaw Swar Soe; and the NUP.

CNI News

12 September 2025

Myanmar is planning to hold the first phase of the general election on December 28, 2025, in 102 townships.

Out of nine political parties registered to contest across the entire Union, the Union Election Commission (UEC) dissolved three parties on September 9, 2025, for failing to meet the specified requirements.

In addition, the UEC told the CNI news agency that any political party intending to compete Union-wide will be dissolved if it fails to contest in 417 constituencies.

Q: Since the election is being held in Phase 1, during the period of Phase 1, how many candidates must a Union-level party submit out of the 417 total candidates to be eligible to contest?

A: Political parties intending to contest across the entire Union in the upcoming election must submit a list of candidates not only for the 102 townships announced for Phase 1 but also for all 833 constituencies of the Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region/State Hluttaws, as announced by the commission on August 18, 2025.

According to Section 12(a)(1) of the Political Parties Registration Law, a party that aims to operate Union-wide must contest in at least half of all constituencies for all Hluttaws.

Q: When you say a Union-level party must submit candidates for half of all constituencies, does that mean half of the 330 townships or half of the constituencies in the 102 townships for Phase 1?

A: According to Section 12(a)(1) of the Political Parties Registration Law, a party that aims to operate Union-wide must contest in at least half of all constituencies of the Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region or State Hluttaw (including ethnic affairs constituencies). It does not mean half of the constituencies in the 102 townships for Phase 1.

Q: What will happen to a political party competing Union-wide if it fails to submit 417 candidates within the UEC’s deadline? For example, will the party be dissolved, or will it be banned from contesting the election?

A: According to Section 12(a)(1) of the Political Parties Registration Law, a party that aims to operate Union-wide must contest in 417 constituencies, which is half of all constituencies of the Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region or State Hluttaw (including ethnic affairs constituencies). If it fails to contest as required, it will not be allowed to continue as a political party and will be dissolved.

Q: There are criticisms that the candidate qualification requirements and restrictions are incompatible with a democratic system as they restrict the freedom to contest. What is your view on this?

A: The representatives elected to the Hluttaw are individuals who will be performing legislative duties for the state and the respective Regions/States within the Hluttaw. It is necessary for these individuals to be qualified. They must be capable of working for the benefit of the people and the public. The Union Election Commission will act in accordance with the law to ensure that qualified Hluttaw representatives can enter the Hluttaw.

Q: My final question is: The election being prepared in Myanmar is said to be a step towards a multiparty democratic system. However, there are also criticisms that the UEC’s requirements and restrictions are designed to prevent the emergence of many parties. Are there any plans for the UEC and political parties to discuss and resolve these issues?

A: To make it easier for political parties to establish and register, the Political Parties Registration Law and its bylaws were amended, and the requirements were relaxed.

There are currently 57 existing political parties, and all of them must comply with the provisions of the Political Parties Registration Law, its bylaws, and the relevant Hluttaw election laws and bylaws. The commission meets with political parties from time to time and resolves their submissions in accordance with the law.

CNI News

12 September 2025

Brigade 972 of the Shanni Nationalities Unity Council (SNUC)/Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) held a graduation ceremony for a military training course attended by 500 trainees.

The graduation ceremony for SNA Brigade 972's Basic Military Training Course No. 1, Batch 13/2025, was held on September 11, 2025, in Homalin Township, Sagaing Region.

CNI News

11 September 2025

China will not permit the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to become stronger than it already is, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China–Myanmar affairs analyst, told CNI News.

She explained that the KIA, as an armed group operating in Kachin State, is geographically limited and will focus mainly on Kachin regional affairs. Because of its proximity to China, it would not be easy for the KIA to further strengthen itself.

“China has made it very clear already. It told the Wa and the Kokang not to support the KIA. So the KIA will have to survive and strengthen itself on its own. It will keep working to consolidate and entrench itself in its territory. But I don’t think it can go much further than that. The KIA can only focus on becoming strong and stable in Kachin State. China will not allow it to expand beyond that. Although China doesn’t have as much influence over the KIA as it does over the Wa or Kokang, the KIA territory borders China. Trade and all other activities are interconnected there, so there will naturally be some limited support. But making the KIA significantly stronger is not easy. They will have to focus on consolidating power in the area they already control. The KIA’s main struggle will remain centered on the Kachin State—pursuing federalism and self-determination.”, said Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw.

KIA Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gun Maw meeting Chin Brotherhood leaders in Laiza

During July and August 2025, the KIA headquarters hosted meetings with Spring Revolution forces including the Chin Brotherhood (CB), the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF), the Yaw Army, Myingyan PDF, NUG ministers, and Naga armed groups.

The KIA has also been providing training, weapons and ammunition, and shelter to revolutionary forces, and has supported joint operations in Sagaing Region and Kachin State.

At a time when three northern alliances are weakened under Chinese pressure, the KIA could become an increasingly central unifying force, said Colonel Khun Okka, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S), speaking to CNI News.

KIA Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gun Maw meeting Yaw Army leaders in Laiza

“The KIA is a veteran organization with much experience. It has capable leaders. While it is fighting on the ground, at the same time it manages alliances, international relations, connections with Western countries, Europe, China, and Japan. It is an organization that can handle these matters effectively. That’s why the KIA doesn’t make extreme decisions—it maintains balance. This reflects its political maturity and prudence. So, at this time when northern groups are weak, the KIA could slowly become the main unifying force.”, he explained.

Sources close to the matter say that the KIA headquarters is currently hosting groups such as the Arakan Army (AA), Naga armed groups (ENDA/ENNO), NUG, NUCC, CNF, ABSDF, and PDF forces.

The KIA is also said to be in negotiations to meet with the Myanmar Tatmadaw. At the same time, with the election approaching, the KIA is gathering Spring Revolution forces and preparing both militarily and politically for the country’s shifting political landscape, according to those familiar with the situation.