The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu has confirmed that the battle for Banmauk city in Sagaing Region was led by Military Region 1 under the National Unity Government (NUG). Despite resistance from approximately 1,000 military council troops and their allied Shanni forces, revolutionary alliance forces successfully captured seven military outposts and two battalion headquarters on September 20. The coordinated offensive demonstrated the effectiveness of the revolutionary forces’ military strategy and planning.
Following the battle, military council troops and Shanni forces who fled are attempting to regroup outside the city, while remaining forces inside the city are being cleared by joint KIA and PDF forces in ongoing operations. The capture of Banmauk represents a significant victory for the Spring Revolution, successfully shifting the momentum of the revolution toward the northwest region beyond Chinese influence, according to 88 Generation student leader U Min Ko Naing’s analysis. The strategic importance of Banmauk extends beyond military considerations to include financial and diplomatic implications that have created positive momentum for the revolutionary forces.
U Min Ko Naing further noted that while the military council expended significant resources and lives defending this strategically crucial location, the well-planned operation by Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) and revolutionary military leaders demonstrated the deteriorating morale among military council forces. The systematic fall of their defensive positions reflected not just territorial losses but also the psychological impact on the remaining troops. This victory, he emphasized, would provide new momentum for the continued advancement of the Spring Revolution, marking a significant shift in the balance of power in the region. The success in Banmauk illustrates the growing capabilities of revolutionary forces and their ability to coordinate complex military operations effectively against entrenched military council positions.
