MNDAA controls 26 percent of vital infrastructure in northern Shan State

Mekong, September 24 Of the 47 infrastructure sites in northern Shan State that are highly important in terms of location, economy, and security, 12, or 26 percent, are fully controlled by the Kokang armed group - MNDAA, according to a report by ISP-Myanmar. According to ISP-Myanmar's report released this September, among these important infrastructure sites, the Kokang armed group controls 12 (26 percent), the military council controls 8 (17 percent), UWSA controls 5 (11 percent), the allied group controls 3 (6 percent), and TNLA controls 2 (4 percent) respectively. Furthermore, ISP-Myanmar indicates that 10 out of the 47 important infrastructure sites, representing 21 percent, are in a state of contention between ethnic armed groups, including the military council. These important infrastructure sites include border trade gates between Myanmar and China, as well as road sections connecting to trade routes with China. This data is based on ISP-Myanmar's study of a total of 472 infrastructure sites within 24 townships in northern Shan State, and these sites include roads, bridges, and border trade stations. ISP-Myanmar also stated that TNLA fully controls 130 of these 472 infrastructure sites, accounting for 28 percent, while the military council controls 83 (18 percent) and MNDAA controls 60 (13 percent). Additionally, there are 74 infrastructure sites, or 16 percent, that are in a state of contention for control among armed groups including the military council, MNDAA, TNLA, KIA, UWSA, and SSPP/SSA. There are also 74 infrastructure sites, or 16 percent, that are controlled through negotiation or a form of shared control, though not through official agreement, among armed groups including the military council, MNDAA, SSPP, UWSA, and the allied group. ISP-Myanmar's study indicates that while the military council controls some factories being implemented by Chinese companies, infrastructure, project sites, and road sections that are strategically important for trade with China and have significant economic interests are under the control of ethnic armed groups. The report also notes that neither KIA nor SSPP/SSA fully controls any of the vital infrastructure in northern Shan State. ISP-Myanmar has also informed that this data is based on information obtained up to March 18, 2026, and that ISP-Myanmar conducted the study using publicly accessible sources, so there may be discrepancies in some data due to limitations in data acquisition and methodological differences. #MekongNews #NorthernShan #Kokang #Infrastructure #MNDAA #Control