According to military sources in Naypyidaw, although the military council has regained control of Lashio in northern Shan State, they will not reestablish the Northeast Regional Military Command in Lashio as before. Instead, they plan to relocate it to a new development between Mong Hsat and Tangyan. While the military council has controlled Lashio since April 21, they will only establish an Operations Command Headquarters (OCH) level presence there, rather than restoring the full Regional Military Command.
Currently, weapons and personnel are being redeployed to Lashio as original battalions are being reorganized. The Lashio General Hospital and Lashio District General Administration Department will also be reopened. Previously, after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) captured the Northeast Regional Military Command headquarters in Lashio on August 3, 2024, the military council had to temporarily relocate their command center to the Mong Hsat and Tangyan area.
Through Chinese mediation, the military council and MNDAA reached a ceasefire agreement in Kunming on January 18. Subsequently, due to political pressure, MNDAA officially announced through their news agency on April 26 that they had handed control of Lashio back to the military council. Under the agreement, the military council will only administer 12 wards within Lashio city proper, while MNDAA maintains control of the surrounding areas outside the city. This new arrangement represents a significant shift in the military’s presence in northern Shan State, with the Northeast Regional Military Command being permanently relocated rather than returning to its original headquarters in Lashio.
