BY PC Bureau
September 5, 2025: – A significant reshuffle of designated camps in Manipur under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement is on the horizon after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reached an understanding with Kuki-Zo groups, including Kuki-Zo Council, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).
According to the agreement, several camps will either be relocated, merged, or shut down altogether to streamline the monitoring and management of cadres under SoO. The move comes amid renewed efforts to restructure the fragile ceasefire framework in Manipur, where ethnic tensions and insurgency have long complicated the peace process.
KNO (Kuki National Organisation) Camps – Status
- Shamusang/Sinai Camp → Relocated to Sijang (PS Saikul, District Kangpokpi)
- Nabil/Nalon Camp → Relocated to Golengkot Village (PS Henglep, District Churachandpur)
- Salem/Mongbung Camp → Relocated to Twiveiphai Village (PS Sangaikot, District Churachandpur)
- Chelep/Harmon Camp → Relocated to Samukhom, Sita Village (PS & District Tengnoupal)
- New Phaisat/Gilgal & Chongkhojou/Horeb Camps → Merged and relocated to New Saikot (PS Henglep, District Churachandpur)
UPF (United People’s Front) Camps – Closure/Relocation Details
- Thingsat Camp → Relocated to Kharam Vaiphei Village (PS Kangchup, District Kangpokpi) and renamed ‘Lhangkichoi’ Camp
- Sinlung Camp (Ankhansuo Village) → Relocated to Kangreng Village (PS Parbung, District Pherzawl)
- Natheljang (Ebenezer) Camp → Relocated to J. Thomkholui Village (PS & District Kangpokpi)
- Mt. Sinai Camp → Closed and merged with Phaibatang & New Teikot Cam
READ: Manipur: Kuki-Zo Have the Last Laugh — Jharkhand Proves ‘Territorial Integrity’ Isn’t Sacrosanct
Officials said the reorganisation aims to reduce the dispersal of camps, improve logistical monitoring, and address concerns raised by local communities near certain sites. It is also seen as part of a broader attempt to revive the faltering SoO framework, which has come under strain amid the ongoing Manipur crisis.
Security experts note that merging smaller camps into larger, more centralised ones could help the authorities better manage arms and cadres, reducing risks of desertion and misuse of camps as operational bases.
Impact on Peace Process
The fresh restructuring of camps, while technical in nature, signals that both the MHA and the Kuki-Zo armed groups are still committed to keeping the SoO framework intact despite political turbulence and demands from various stakeholders.
READ: Kuki-Zo Groups Strike Hard Bargain, Ceasefire Extended with Symbolic Concession
However, whether these moves will translate into stronger peace-building or trigger fresh resistance will depend on how smoothly the relocation is carried out – and whether it reassures local populations worried about the proximity of armed camps.
