The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has announced that it will designate the newly captured areas along the Ruili (Shweli) River, also known as N-mau Hka, located on the border of Kachin State and Shan State, as the territories of its new 11th Brigade.
Colonel Naw Bu, spokesperson for KIA, clarified that the newly assigned territory for the 11th Brigade will encompass the Man Win Gyi, Mabein, and Shwe Gu areas, all of which were seized by KIA.
He elaborated that due to the expansion of their administrative areas, KIA and its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), have opted to establish this additional brigade.
"Our administrative area has grown significantly now. The Eastern Command cannot effectively manage this area anymore. Creating the new brigade is mainly to improve administration and help the local community”, Colonel Naw Bu said.
Previously designated as administrative areas under the KIA's Eastern Command and predominantly operated by the 12th and 27th Battalions under the 3rd Brigade, the territories have now been reconstituted as those of the 11th Brigade, KIA stated.
"The territory of the 11th Brigade has been officially defined and established at N-mau Hka. Both U Lang Pa Ginwang and Shwe Gu areas have been incorporated into this designated territory, with ongoing operations by the 12th and 27th battalions”, according to KIA.
It is believed that the headquarters of the 11th Brigade will be located in Man Win Gyi, situated on the border between Kachin and Shan states. Some political analysts have also suggested that this location is strategically crucial for overseeing border trade too.
The areas within the 11th Brigade's territory comprise Man Win Gyi, Kai Htik, and Mung Hkawng, along with Mansi, seized by KIA earlier in the year, and Mabein in northern Shan State.
In 2011, KIA expanded its presence and established the 10th Brigade, stationed in Shan State. More than a decade later, during the post-coup period, the 11th Brigade was also formed on the border of Kachin and Shan States.
More than three years after the Junta staged the coup, fighting erupted across Kachin State. In the past two months, KIA-led joint resistance forces have successfully captured several towns and hundreds of the Junta's military installations.
