Five people were killed and at least 12 were injured in Junta airstrikes on Mawchi Town in Bawlakhe Township, Karenni State on 24 and 26 April 2025.
Mawchi Town is a key business hub in Karenni State and home to tin and tungsten ore mines. It was captured by a coalition of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and Karenni resistance forces, on 28 January 2024.
On 24 April, a junta aircraft dropped a 500-pound bomb on a mining site in Mawchi Town, killing five civilians and injuring at least 10 others, some of whom were Chinese workers, according to a Mawchi Town resident.
He said: “A mining site operated by Chinese people was struck. There were several casualties because the attack occurred during operational hours. Many of the mining sites here are run by Chinese nationals, and the junta used to target these locations in its bombings. In the 24 April attack, we heard that five of the victims were Chinese, including a married couple.”
Then again on 26 April, at about noon, another junta airstrike hit the town. It killed at least two people and damaged houses, though exact figures for casualties and damage have been hard to obtain as it started raining heavily shortly after the airstrike.
The aforementioned resident said: “The area around Dieselkone ward was bombed by aircraft. We’ve received reports that three bombs dropped, injuring at least two men and damaging houses. However, we can’t verify the exact details of casualties yet. This information came from people who returned from the area. It was hard to get a clear picture of the situation afterward due to the heavy rain.”
Previously, on 7 March 2025, a junta airstrike hit toll gate No. 2 at the entrance to Mawchi Town. It killed two civilians and injured a further 10.
Also on 24 April, junta aircraft bombed Mese Town in Mese Township which adjoins Bawlakhe Township where Mawchi Town is located. Casualties and damage caused by the bombing are currently unknown.
Following the deadly 28 March 2025 earthquake that had its epicentre under Sagaing Region, the junta announced a temporary unilateral ceasefire from 2 to 30 April, claiming that it was doing so to focus on humanitarian and relief efforts.
But, the junta has not respected its own ceasefire and in April, during the entire period of its alleged ceasefire, rather than stopping fighting the junta intensified its airstrikes, drone bombings, and artillery attacks throughout the country. Heavy fighting has also continued throughout that period in some areas, according to anti-coup armed resistance groups.
