By Prashanth Parameswaran
Ceasefire agreement to be signed October 15, with several major groups still left out.
Myanmar’s government will ink a peace deal on October 15 with only eight of the country’s fifteen ethnic armed groups it initially agreed to negotiate with, officials confirmed Sunday.
Over the past few years, the government has been trying to reach a nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) to help end decades of civil war before historic polls in November. But getting all rebel groups on board has proven difficult, with several – including the Kachin Independence Army – refusing to sign the agreement and still engaged in clashes with government troops.
“The NCA will be signed on October 15 in Naypyidaw,” Hla Maung Shwe, a senior member of the government’s negotiating team, told AFP, adding that eight groups including the Karen National Union were part of the pact.
“We will keep inviting all ethnic armed groups to sign,” he added.
Read the full story at The Diplomat