3 May 2026 – The Chin National Organization/Chin National Defence Force (CNO/CNDF) has announced plans to retake Falam town with a ‘greater strength’ following a strategic withdrawal.
Speaking at a fundraising event on 2 May 2026, spokesperson Salai Timmy clarified that the retreat was not a defeat but a tactical move necessitated by the State Security and Peace Commission’s (SSPC) overwhelming air power and manpower.
The conflict in Falam intensified after the SSPC launched a four-column offensive on 29 October 2025. Chin Brotherhood forces and the Chinland Council resisted for six months, reportedly inflicting hundreds of casualties and seizing over 200 weapons before losing control of the town in April 2026.
The SSPC’s strategic aim remains the total control of Falam and key transport routes, including the Hakha-Falam and Falam-Taingen roads, to dominate northern Chin State.
The wider conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians. The SSPC has increasingly relied on indiscriminate airstrikes and drone attacks after its ground offensive stalled.
Recent reports detail junta airstrikes killing five civilians in Khawpuichhip village and a 17-year-old girl in a separate drone strike. In Falam township specifically, the SSPC has bombed schools and targeted villages, forcing widespread displacement.
Despite these setbacks, the CNO/CNDF maintains that fighting continues around the town and urges the public to remain resilient as they prepare for a counter-offensive. – Reporting by Daniel
