Poor leadership, disunity blamed for loss of northern Chin State to junta

By Admin 28 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

28 July 2026, Falam, Chin State

The loss of several towns in northern Chin State to the military junta was the result of poor leadership and a lack of unity among Chin revolutionary forces, according to political analysts.

Chin political analyst Khai Sar told DMG that disunity among Chin resistance groups and failures to build effective alliances contributed to the rapid loss of territory.

"First is leadership. Looking at the control established over both northern and southern Chin State, after 2023 and 2024, the Chinland Council (CC) and the Chin National Front (CNF) were no longer seen actively engaging in battle. They left places like Hakha and Tedim untargeted. Their overall approach to the revolutionary war highlights weaknesses at the leadership level," Khai Sar said.

He said the failure to develop a coherent Chin political and military strategy allowed the junta to launch counteroffensives and regain territory.

"Another factor was forming impractical alliances. Because their political and military allies were geographically distant, they were unable to provide military support when real difficulties arose in northern Chin State. As a result, territory that was previously captured ended up being lost," he said.

Khai Sar also said that, unlike the Arakan Army, the Chin National Front lacked a clear and decisive strategy, opting instead for a more flexible approach without making sufficient efforts to reconcile differences between the Chinland Council (CC) and the Chin Brotherhood (CB).

He said the lack of coordination prevented Chin revolutionary forces from reinforcing one another during battles in northern Chin State.

The military junta recaptured Falam and Tonzang towns in April and May, followed by Thantlang in July.

Of Chin State's nine townships, the junta now controls all five in the north: Tonzang, Tedim, Falam, Thantlang, and Hakha.

In southern Chin State, Matupi, Mindat, and Kanpetlet townships are controlled by the Chin Brotherhood and the Chin People's Union/Chin People's Army (CPU/CPA), while Paletwa Township is under the control of the Arakan Army.

Chin revolutionary forces remain divided into two main blocs: the Chinland Council, which operates primarily in northern Chin State, and the Chin Brotherhood, which is mainly active in the south.

Since May, the junta has launched large-scale offensives involving thousands of troops against Mindat and Kanpetlet townships in southern Chin State. After its initial offensive was repelled, the regime launched a second major operation in July.

Analysts warned that if southern Chin State also falls under junta control, it could have serious consequences for the wider revolutionary movement.

"The current offensive in southern Chin State is not aimed solely at Chin State, but is part of a crescent-shaped encirclement strategy targeting Arakan State as well," Khai Sar said. "If the junta secures control over Chin State, Arakan State could become isolated. The military is attempting to cut off Arakan State from Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, and Chin State. If Chin State is fully retaken, it could undermine the political and revolutionary momentum in Arakan State."

Frontline sources said resistance forces, including the Chin People's Army, Yaw resistance groups, and the Arakan Army, are jointly defending against the junta's ongoing offensives in southern Chin State.

By early 2026, Chin revolutionary forces had liberated six of the state's nine townships. Following the junta's recent advances, only four townships in southern Chin State remain under the control of the Chin People's Army and the Arakan Army.