Myanmar regime reopens Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge 2

Junta authorities reopened the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge 2 on Thursday after nearly 10 months of closure, restoring a key border crossing for trade with Thailand, local traders and residents said. The bridge, a critical route for billions of dollars in annual border trade, was shut down by the regime in mid-August last year. The junta said the closure was aimed at preventing the transport of unlicensed goods, but traders and residents said it was also intended to block resistance groups from collecting tax revenues along the Myawaddy trade corridor. The reopening was carried out without formal public notice or prior coordination with Thai authorities, according to traders in Myawaddy. Residents said they learned of the reopening after a Buddhist blessing ceremony for the bridge was held early Thursday morning. “Bridge 2 has indeed opened,” a Myawaddy merchant told Myanmar Now on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. “They didn’t notify people when closing it, and they also didn’t notify when opening it either.” The merchant said Thai customs officials crossed into Myanmar on Thursday morning to verify the reopening. Myanmar authorities reopened the key Karen State section of the Asia Highway from Myawaddy to Hpa-an early last month, but the continued closure of the bridge had prevented the full resumption of border trade. Residents and traders said they hope the reopening will revive commerce and reduce prices of imported goods. One Myawaddy resident said commodity prices rose sharply during the closure, despite some goods continuing to cross the border by boat. “Commodity prices went up after the bridge was closed,” the resident said. “There were no severe shortages because some goods could still come across by boat, but prices were high.” Thailand’s Customs Department said Thursday that the bridge had been reopened on a trial basis and would later resume full operations. The border crossing lies along the strategically important Asia Highway in Karen State, where fighting between Myanmar’s military and resistance groups has intensified since late 2023. The Karen National Union and allied resistance forces launched offensives along the highway in an effort to control border trade routes and revenue streams. Although resistance groups temporarily captured about 50 miles of the highway, Myanmar’s military regained control in July of last year. Despite the junta’s current control of the highway, clashes with resistance forces continue in the region, and observers warn that fighting could escalate again at any time.

Myanmar regime reopens Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge 2

The move was not formally announced, but has been confirmed by merchants and Myawaddy residents

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