The handover of Mandalay’s Mogok town to Naypyidaw control begins

Nearly 170 regime troops have entered Mogok Township escorted by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) since Nov. 20, ahead of the scheduled handover to the military by the end of November, the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Mandalay Region told DVB. 

A PDF member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that most residents had fled their homes in advance of regime forces taking control of Mogok by Nov. 29, as part of its China-brokered ceasefire deal with the TNLA reached on Oct. 29.

Mogok, 124 miles (200 km) north of Mandalay, is a source of revenue for both the regime and ethnic armed groups due to its lucrative ruby mining industry.

Residents told DVB that the price of passenger bus tickets to Mandalay, or elsewhere, have risen to 800,000 MMK ($200 USD) per person.

An unknown number of regime troops have entered Momeik Township in northern Shan State and have positioned themselves in homes belonging to residents since Nov. 20. Momeik, located 170 miles (273 km) west of the regional capital Lashio, is also a part of the ceasefire handover deal between the TNLA and the regime.

Both Mogok and Momeik were seized by TNLA-led resistance forces in July 2024.