Myanmar Army Massing to Retake Mawchi Mines Funding Karenni Resistance

Myanmar junta troops are massing around Mawchi, a tin‑and‑tungsten mining hub that has become a key revenue source for Karenni resistance forces, according to frontline sources.

Mawchi, located in Hpasawng Township, has been under the control of Karenni armed groups since early 2024. A force of around 1,000 soldiers penetrated Hpasawng town on February 15, in what resistance fighters say is a push to retake the nearby mines.

Junta units have established a base at Hpasawng’s Zedi Hill and are preparing to advance, according to a resistance source.