Fighting between the Chinland Defence Force–Mara (CDF-Mara) and the Maraland Defence Force (MDF) in the Mara area of Chin State, which had continued for more than a month, has subsided as of August 29, according to CDF-Mara.

“Since August 29, things have settled down. I think the fighting stopped because they took heavy casualties. But we believe the MDF is getting ready to launch another offensive soon, this time together with the Arakan Army. I can say that with some confidence, because we’ve got audio evidence pointing to the AA’s involvement,” said Salai John Law, spokesperson for the CDF-Mara.

The CDF-Mara has also proposed ending the fighting and seeking peace between itself and the MDF, the two Mara area-based resistance groups, while keeping the door open for talks if the MDF withdraws from the disputed areas.

“If the MDF calls the AA back and pulls its own troops back to its headquarters, we’ll gladly agree to a ceasefire and sit down for peace talks. But we can’t accept them pushing forward early and declaring they’ll take over our headquarters,” Salai John Law told Chin World.

The CDF-Mara, a member of the Chinland Council, and the MDF, a member of the Chin Brotherhood Alliance, had been engaged in fighting in the Mara area since July 14.