The NSCN(I-M) has rejected reports of internal conflict following a leaked promotion order that elevated a senior Naga Army officer. Calling the rumours “fabricated and malicious,” the NSCN’s information wing clarified that the decision was made collectively and in line with party rules.
Dimapur | November 5, 2025
In an attempt to quell intensifying speculation about internal discord, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuttal against what it called “misinformation and sensationalized digital reporting” over the promotion of a senior Naga Army officer.
The Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) of the group’s Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) said reports suggesting a split in leadership were “fabricated and malicious.” The clarification came amid a storm of controversy surrounding a leaked order dated October 29, 2025, promoting Maj. Gen. Honreishang Shadang to Lieutenant General and naming him successor to Longvibu (Commander-in-Chief) Anthony Ningkhan Shimray.
The NSCN, in its official note, stated that Shadang’s elevation was a collective leadership decision, fully in line with Naga Army rules and the outfit’s constitutional framework, known as the Yezhabo. It dismissed reports of a power struggle as the work of “certain elements trying to serve vested interests through digital platforms.”
“No unilateral decision is applied in this kind of high-profile Naga Army appointment,” the statement read. “No such thing as a power struggle exists in any respect whatsoever. The order issued by Yaruiwo on 29th October 2025 stands as it is.”
Backdrop: Muivah’s Clampdown on “Unauthorized Promotion”
The clarification follows days of confusion and internal friction after sources within the organization claimed Thuingaleng Muivah, the 91-year-old NSCN-IM supremo, had personally intervened to quash the order.
According to insiders, Muivah—who recently returned from a high-profile homecoming tour to his native Somdal in Manipur’s Ukhrul district—was reportedly furious over what he described as a “blatant violation” of party discipline.
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An emergency Collective Leadership meeting was convened on October 31 at Hebron Camp near Dimapur, attended by Chairman Q. Tuccu, Vice-President Tongmeth Wangnao, and Ato Kilonser V.S. Atem, where Muivah is said to have ordered the reversal of the decision.
He warned that unilateral acts risked “tearing apart the unity” of the movement and reminded commanders that all major appointments must carry collective sanction.
Larger Context: Cracks in a Fading Consensus
The flare-up over Shadang’s promotion is seen as symptomatic of the NSCN-IM’s deeper leadership crisis, shaped by Muivah’s advancing age and the absence of a clear succession plan.
Founded in 1980 by Isak Chishi Swu, S.S. Khaplang, and Muivah, the organization has weathered multiple splits, but analysts warn that the latest incident exposes unprecedented strains.
Last year, in April 2024, a group of 14 Naga Army officers revolted against Longvibu Shimray, accusing him of compromising the “revolutionary cause” and colluding with Indian agencies. Although the mutiny was contained, it left a residue of mistrust that has continued to fester.
Moreover, allegations of corruption and internal politicking have increasingly surfaced on social media, eroding the authority of the collective leadership.
“The NSCN-IM’s strength always lay in its discipline,” says a senior Naga political observer in Dimapur. “But digital-era leaks and generational divides are testing that foundation like never before.”
Muivah’s Legacy and the Road Ahead
Despite the turbulence, Muivah remains an unmatched symbol of the Naga cause. His Senapati reception last month, attended by nearly 40,000 people and leaders from 21 Naga tribes, underscored the reverence he still commands.
But it also highlighted a paradox — the towering figure of a leader struggling to hold together a movement torn between old loyalties and new ambitions.
The NSCN-IM’s latest statement appears aimed at projecting unity and continuity, even as whispers of discontent grow louder. Whether the organization can translate that show of discipline into genuine cohesion remains to be seen.
