After months of conflict the RCSS/SSA and SSPP/SSA finally agree to stop fighting.

Rival Shan armed groups that have been fighting since the end of last year, causing the displacement of thousands of civilians, have agreed to stop military operations against each other.

The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) released a 6-point statement, stating its soldiers will stay at its base in northern Shan State and won’t fight with Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

Leaders from both sides met to discuss how to stop clashes, about the peace process and national and state-level politics at the RCSS/SSA’s Loi Tai Leng headquarters in southern Shan State on March 20.

“We stopped fighting at 3:45 pm on March 19 after receiving an order (from above).  Since this time, we’ve withdrawn our forces from the conflict zone,” an SSPP officer told SHAN.

After fighting started in late 2018, clashes between the Shan armed groups have broken out in Kyaukme, Namtu, Kehsi, and Mongkai townships, resulting in many civilian causalities.