Anti-junta forces in Myanmar launch new unified command structure

Some of Myanmar’s main anti-junta forces have announced a new political and military alliance on Monday, in a move aimed at tightening coordination and accelerating their campaign to dismantle military rule. The coalition, named the Steering Committee for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), launched by the opposition National Unity Government (NUG), brings together several of the country’s most powerful ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces under a single coordinating body, signalling a push toward a more unified front after years of fragmented resistance.The alliance brings together some of the country’s most powerful ethnic armed organisations, many of which have seized and now control significant territory. The Kachin Independence Army has led major offensives across Kachin and northern Shan states, while the Karen National Liberation Army, Karenni forces, and the Chin National Front have each captured key towns in their respective states.These groups have coordinated operations before, often referred to collectively as the “K3C”, but this marks a more formalised and politically aligned partnership under a single structure. A video of the announcement, posted by the NUG, showed senior leaders from across the alliance delivering remarks, including top officials from the parallel civilian administration and several major ethnic armed groups. A senior Kachin commander was also present at the meeting. In a joint statement, the alliance said its goal is to dismantle all forms of dictatorship and work collectively toward building a new federal democratic system.The alliance outlined a six-point agenda focused on dismantling military rule and reshaping the country’s political system. It pledged to end the military's role in politics and place all security forces under the authority of a democratically elected civilian government.The group also committed to scrapping the 2008 constitution and preventing any attempt to revive it, while drafting a new federal democratic charter with broad consensus. It said the ultimate aim is to establish a federal democratic union and implement a system of transitional justice to ensure accountability for abuses committed during the conflict, including gender-based violence. Notably, several key actors remain outside the alliance, including the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), formed in 2021 during the early stages of the Spring Revolution, the Arakan Army (AA), which is currently engaged in major offensives against the military, as well as Mon revolutionary forces and a number of large ethnic armed groups based in Shan State—underscoring that the coalition is significant but not yet fully inclusive of all anti-junta forces. In his remarks, NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La described the formation of the SCEF as a “significant political milestone,” saying it is grounded in the principle of responsible and accountable national unity aimed at building a federal democratic union. He added that the body is intended not only to better coordinate military leadership and operations, but also to establish a unified political leadership structure. Khu Oo Reh, Chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party and Karenni’s Interim Executive Council (IEC), said that while it was agreed to form the SCEF based on three pillars: State federal units, people’s representation, and women’s representation, it had to be launched with only six groups due to various challenges. "The fact that the three pillars are not yet fully represented, and that not everyone who should be involved in each pillar is currently included, is one of our weaknesses resulting from time constraints and challenges,” Khu Oo Reh said.“To address this, we will strive to make additions as quickly as possible.”

Anti-junta forces in Myanmar launch new unified command structure

The alliance seeks to coordinate battlefield strategy and lay groundwork for a future federal democratic system

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