Mizzima
Local groups are calling for peace negotiations after the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) fought each other over two days in Hseni Township, Northern Shan State.
Troops from the two ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) fought on 26 and 27 March.
According to an SSPP statement, the fighting started after the MNDAA launched a drone attack on SSPP troops stationed in Namsalat Village-Tract and Seiau Village-Tract in Hseni Township at around 3:00 pm on 26 March.
They said that the fighting continued until 27 March with the MNDAA launching drone attacks on SSPP special forces camps at 9:00 am before launching an attack on the SSPP with over 200 soldiers at 11:00 am.
The fighting continued until about noon on 27 March.
Residents of Hseni are concerned for their safety and are urging the two EAOs to negotiate and resolve their differences.
A Hseni resident said: “They shouldn’t be fighting with each other, it’s sickening. It’s very different from what they claimed they would do. They should unite instead of fighting or the junta troops will come back. Just wait and see…”
The outcome of the fighting was not known as telecommunications were down.
Someone living in another part of Hseni Township explained: “There has been fighting between in Hseni between SSPP and MNDAA. Due to the telecommunication outage, we have not received any updated news since yesterday afternoon [27 March].”
The SSPP statement claimed that the SSPP had only acted in self-defence when it was attacked by the MNDAA and that the SSPP is committed to resolving EAO disagreements through dialogue.
The MNDAA is yet to issue a statement about the fighting.
Mizzima reached out to both the SSPP and the MNDAA for clarification, but neither group responded.
The reason behind the fighting is currently unclear.
According to locals, the SSPP has been active in Hseni Township for a long time. But, during the 1027 offensive by the Three Brotherhood Alliance the MNDAA, a Three Brotherhood Alliance member, took control of Hseni Town from the junta and repelled its attempts to re-take the town. It is now in the process of establishing an independent administration for the town.
Outside of Hseni Town, the SSPP, the MNDAA and junta forces all hold different parts of Hseni Township.
Locals believe that the most recent clashes between the SSPP and MNDAA are fights over territory.
Generally the MNDAA and SSPP have had cordial relations.
The MNDAA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance along with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA). Though the SSPP is not part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance it maintains good relations with the Alliance.
Previously, in the fight against the junta, the SSPP had remained neutral, but on 30 January 2024, the SSPP stated that it was going to support the Three Brotherhood Alliance and other anti-junta resistance forces
Previously the SSPP and TNLA also fought in a loose alliance against the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army’s (RCSS/SSA ’s) incursions into northern Shan State from its southern Shan State territory. Though more recently, the SSPP and TNLA clashed in September 2023 in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State.
The MNDAA and SSPP are also part of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) led Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), a coalition of EAOs who did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the Myanmar Army in 2015.
The SSPP and RCSS/SSA signed a truce in November 2023.
