Event Summary
On 27 August 2025, the Burma/Myanmar junta banned the transport of a wide range of goods, including critical medicines, electrical appliances, and consumer products, to multiple states and regions. This policy is an escalation of intensified inspections that began in early August 2025, originating from the major logistics hub of Mandalay. The restricted items are extensive, encompassing everything from feminine hygiene products and mosquito nets to mining equipment and agricultural fertiliser. The ban specifically targets regions with significant opposition control, including parts of Sagaing, Mandalay, and ethnic states like Karen and Kachin. This move is a deliberate strategy to economically stranglehold areas held by Ethnic Resistance Organizations (ERO) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) by severing access to essential supplies, thereby punishing the civilian population and crippling local economies. The junta has enforced this through multi-team inspections at key terminals like Swe Taw and increased checkpoints on all main roads. This sweeping transport ban severely constrains humanitarian access and economic activity in opposition-held regions, further shrinking civic space and undermining the ability of civil society actors to operate or support affected communities.