Mandalay-Myitkyina Corridor Reopens as Northern Route Returns to Normalcy

TATMADAW is carrying out na­tional defence and security duties to ensure the stability of the State, which is a fundamental require­ment for national development. In areas where terrorist groups have temporarily gained control and carried out acts of violence, counter-terrorism operations have been conducted to retake towns and villages and to reopen key transport routes vital to the public. As a result, full control has now been restored, and the en­tire Mandalay-Madaya-Thabeik­kyin-Tagaung-Htigyaing-Ka­tha-Indaw-Mawlu-Nantsee Aung-Mohnyin-Mogaung-Myit­kyina transport corridor has been reopened, and it is expected to contribute to the recovery and de­velopment of the socioeconomic lives of local ethnic communities.

The transport route linking Mandalay and Myitkyina is a fun­damental piece of infrastructure for the development of northern Myanmar. Its use facilitates eas­ier and faster travel for both res­idents and travellers, improves the flow of goods, and creates greater economic opportunities. It also enables more efficient transportation, reducing logistics costs and allowing local people to purchase goods at more afforda­ble prices, while strengthening connectivity between regions. In addition, the route plays a vital role in transporting agricultur­al produce from rural areas to urban markets and supports ac­cess to education, healthcare and social services. Therefore, it is a highly beneficial corridor for the socioeconomic development of local ethnic communities.

Joint groups of PDF terrorist temporarily seized control of cer­tain towns, villages and areas for their own interests and carried out acts of violence, blocking this key transport corridor. As a result, difficulties arose in the transpor­tation and flow of goods, leading to shortages of food and daily neces­sities, disruptions in the supply of medicines and emergency items, and a lack of raw materials for businesses, while finished goods were unable to reach markets. Consequently, the daily socio­economic lives of local ethnic communities deteriorated, and residents suffered oppression and abuse by the terrorists, forcing them to flee their homes.

In order to reopen the route, Tatmadaw columns carried out the necessary administrative and logistical preparations, organiz­ing their forces systematically and conducting coordinated oper­ations based on military strategy. They gradually recaptured and secured areas that had been un­der temporary terrorist control. Thabeikkyin and surrounding areas were retaken on 23 July 2025; the Phayaung Taung mining area east of Madaya on 24 August; the Alpha cement factory on 28 August; the Setaunggyi area on 7 November; and the Singu area on 19 December, thereby restor­ing the Mandalay-Madaya-Sin­gu-Thabeikkyin route. Tagaung was retaken on 12 March 2026, reopening the Mandalay-Ma­daya-Thabeikkyin-Tagaung sec­tion; the Tagaung-Htigyaing route on 25 March; the Htigyaing-Katha route on 16 April; and Indaw on 30 April, restoring the route from Mandalay to Indaw.

Through continued and dif­ficult operations, Mawlu was re­captured on 5 May. Subsequently, Tatmadaw columns linked up with units conducting regional securi­ty operations in Nantsee Aung vil­lage, Mohnyin Township, Kachin State, enabling the full reopening of the Mandalay-Madaya-Thabeik­kyin-Tagaung-Htigyaing-Ka­tha-Indaw-Mawlu-Nantsee Aung-Mohnyin-Mogaung-Myit­kyina transport corridor. Passen­ger vehicles and freight transport have now resumed normal oper­ations along the route.

To reopen the said transport corridor, Tatmadaw columns con­ducted successive military oper­ations based on sound strategy, placing little regard for their own lives and demonstrating unwa­vering determination, effort and discipline, while also receiving co­operation from the public. The op­erations lasted for over one year and three months, during which a total of 322 major and minor engagements were fought with terrorist groups. During these clashes, 138 enemy bodies, 332 assorted weapons, as well as am­munition and related materials, were seized. Some Tatmadaw of­ficers and members also made the ultimate sacrifice for the State and Tatmadaw.

During their temporary con­trol of these areas, the terrorist groups used religious buildings, schools, departmental offices, hospitals, clinics and residential houses as cover to construct bunkers. They launched attacks on Tatmadaw columns, planted mines among residential build­ings and along public transport routes, and carried out explosions targeting state-owned factories and workshops. They also mis­appropriated factory products for personal gain and deliberately de­stroyed roads and bridges along transport routes. As a result, the flow of goods in the region was completely disrupted, and the socioeconomic conditions of residents, including economic, so­cial, health and education sectors, deteriorated significantly. This caused substantial losses to the State and the public, and brought severe hardship to the people.

Due to the violent actions of terrorists, local people whose so­cio-economic conditions had de­teriorated in all respects came to directly experience the hardships of conflict and increasingly reject­ed such acts of violence. In their desire to see their communities restored to peace and stability, some residents began to secretly provide information on terror­ist activities to Tatmadaw and cooperated with it. In addition, some members of PDF groups and ethnic armed organisations who had returned to the legal fold, having come to accept and trust the peace process of the State and Tatmadaw, also contributed by sharing intelligence on terror­ist activities to support efforts to suppress violence.

Following Tatmadaw’s suc­cessful recapture and reopening of towns, villages and transport routes previously under tempo­rary terrorist control, vehicles are now able to travel normally again. The flow of goods and trade within the region has resumed smoothly and efficiently, and the socioeconomic conditions of the public, including education and healthcare, are expected to re­cover and develop once again. As a result, local people have ex­pressed deep gratitude and pride towards Tatmadaw.

Victorious troops, who fought courageously and relentlessly day and night for the sake of re­gional stability, without regard for their own lives, were warm­ly welcomed along the route by residents of towns and villages, who greeted them with Thabyay branches and garlands of honour. These scenes reflect the heart­felt joy and appreciation of local people who themselves have ex­perienced the value of peace and stability.

Tatmadaw columns are car­rying out necessary area security and stabilisation operations in those regions and, in coopera­tion with the relevant authorities, are assisting with the repair and reconstruction of government buildings, residential houses of residents, schools, roads and bridges that were destroyed by terrorists.

The Government is inviting ethnic armed organizations to hold unconditional peace talks, to end armed conflict and resolve political issues through political means. It also urges them to en­gage in peace discussions without preconditions.

Due to instigation and en­couragement by the NUG and CRPH, members of PDF groups have committed acts of violence. In reality, these actions have caused significant harm and loss­es to the socioeconomic lives of local people who had previously been living peacefully.

If they genuinely wish to con­tribute to national peace, stability and development, they are urged to contact the nearest security forces or military units and enter the legal fold as soon as possible.

Along the Manda­l a y - M a d a y a -T h a b e i k ­kyin-Tagaung-Htigyaing-Ka­tha-Indaw-Mawlu-Nantsee Aung-Mohnyin-Mogaung-My­itkyina transport corridor, pas­sengers are now able to travel normally and peacefully once again. — MNA/KNN