Status verified as of 22 September 2026. Political positions change; this explainer describes the documented position on that date.
Current position
No independent Shan state exists; both principal Shan organizations, the RCSS and SSPP, describe their goals as federalism and self-determination within Myanmar rather than independence. Sporadic armed conflict has continued despite 2023 ceasefire orders exchanged between the two factions.[1]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The RCSS's armed wing, the Shan State Army-South, is a signatory to Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, while the rival SSPP/Shan State Army-North rejected that agreement and instead joined the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, a bloc of ethnic armed organizations seeking political dialogue independent of the military government's process. In August-November 2023, RCSS and SSPP leaders issued ceasefire orders toward each other, though sporadic clashes between the two Shan factions and with government forces continued, including a reported 20 September 2024 attack on an RCSS base at Mongping.
- Shan armed groups in Myanmar agree to temporary ceasefire, sparking hopes of unity (Mizzima) link, Ceasefire Agreements and Ongoing Military Conflict sections. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/shan-self-determination/status · last substantive update 24 September 2026.