Making External Assistance Work in the Political Fragmented Context of Southeast Myanmar

Two years after the military coup of February 2021, the Southeast’s political and conflict landscape remains characterized by a large and diverse opposition to the regime, geographically widespread armed resistance, and significant humanitarian needs.

Established Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in the Southeast have been joined by new forms of resistance, including the establishment of the National Unity Government (NUG) and dozens of local defence groups, some aligned, some not.

This paper looks at these relationships in the Southeast of the country in the context of external assistance and existing networks for the delivery of basic services and local governance.