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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent

Myanmar civil war: a quick guide to the conflict

Myanmar United Nations Aung San Suu Kyi China AA Burma NLD
Members of the Mandalay People's Defence Forces (MDY-PDF) training at a camp in an undisclosed location in Myanmar's northern Shan State.
Members of the Mandalay People's Defence Forces (MDY-PDF) training at a camp in an undisclosed location in Myanmar's northern Shan State. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Myanmar is a south-east Asian country that has experienced decades of conflict and repressive military rule since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. Since a military coup in 2021, fighting has flared once again. Here’s a primer on the conflict:

What’s the history behind the current fighting?

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