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 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 Mandalay-Madaya-Thabeikkyin-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

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