The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied forces have taken complete control of all military junta camps in Mansi town, Bhamo District, Kachin State, on the morning of 8 January, according to frontline sources.
A KIA frontline source confirmed that they had taken complete control of all three junta battalions guarding the town – Light Infantry Battalions 601, 319, and 352 – around 10am on 8 January.
“That’s true. We cleared and captured all three junta camps after 10 am this morning. Right now, we’re still pursuing the junta soldiers who managed to escape,” he said.
He added that the entire Mansi township is now free of the junta’s presence, and operations are ongoing to locate junta soldiers who fled during the capture of the camps.
Frontline sources report that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were seized from all three captured junta battalions – LIB 601, 319, and 352 – with heavy casualties reported on the military council’s side.
Regarding the capture of the three camps in Mansi, Colonel Naw Bu, the KIO Information Officer, said: “While we’ve heard reports that all camps have been captured, there hasn’t been any official confirmation yet. However, it’s highly likely because we’ve been conducting operations almost daily since the new year.”
The KIA and allied forces began their offensive against junta camps in Mansi township and along the Shan State border in 2023, gaining control of the township except for three camps within the town in 2024.
The offensive against all three junta positions in Mansi began simultaneously with the battle for Bhamo on 4 December 2024.
The Mansi offensive was temporarily paused during the New Year period before KIA and allied forces resumed their attack on 6 January, achieving complete capture after three days. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues within nearby Bhamo.
Sent by KNG.