Myanmar Spring Chronicle – Scenes from March 23
(MoeMaKa), March 24, 2026
Myanmar: Caught Between Global Turmoil and Civil War
As wars in the Middle East continue, global shortages of oil and natural gas are intensifying. With conflicts involving Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and some Gulf countries raising fears of wider regional spillover, the atmosphere is thick with the threat of war. Meanwhile, Myanmar is already engulfed in its own suffering due to an ongoing civil war.
Even before the Middle East conflicts escalated, Myanmar was struggling with uneven fuel pricing across regions for imported petroleum. Now, as the global fuel crisis worsens, border areas that rely on fuel from neighboring countries—and regions already burdened by layered taxes and transport restrictions—are seeing fuel prices soar to tens of thousands of kyats per liter. Reports of extreme fuel price hikes have recently emerged from Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, and Karen states.
The crisis is no longer limited to remote areas. In cities like Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, and Taunggyi, restrictions on purchase days and quantities have led to long lines for fuel. Urban residents—who previously did not face such hardships—now struggle daily to secure fuel for work, school, and even emergencies such as funerals. Among the many daily difficulties shared on social media, waiting in fuel lines has become one of the most common hardships.
In a country already suffering from job scarcity, some people have turned to reselling excess fuel for profit. At the same time, black markets have emerged, with even fuel import and distribution companies allegedly selling at inflated illicit prices.
Queuing for fuel has become a routine part of life. In the scorching summer, people line up from midnight, only to get a chance to buy fuel late the next morning or even around noon.
The fuel crisis is now showing signs of further crippling an already fragile economy. Key sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism are expected to be directly affected. Yet there is little clarity on fuel distribution plans for agriculture, fisheries, or small-scale industries. In conflict zones and partially contested border areas, no authority appears to be taking responsibility for ensuring access to fuel.
While people in cities struggle with fuel shortages, civilians in other parts of Myanmar continue to die in airstrikes. In places like Kathar, Kani Township, and Rakhine State, aerial attacks have killed not only armed fighters but also civilians and Buddhist monks.
The fact that the global fuel crisis has done nothing to halt the military junta’s airstrikes could be seen as a bitter irony of Myanmar’s fate.
At the same time, conflicts are emerging among resistance forces fighting the military regime. In mid-month, the Kokang armed group began attacking the Ta’ang armed group. After a few days of fighting and negotiations, they agreed to a ceasefire after capturing Kutkai and some surrounding territories.
Questions remain as to why allied armed groups have resorted to fighting each other. While some attribute it to pressure or influence from neighboring China or to competing interests, the reality appears more complex. For civilians, regardless of which armed group controls their area, the situation remains dire: forced recruitment, taxation, and displacement are common. When clashes occur, people are forced to abandon their homes, belongings, and crops to flee for safety.
These conflicts are not limited to ethnic armed groups. Clashes, arrests, and surprise attacks are also occurring among Bamar armed groups. In Pale Township, Sagaing Region, a local armed group called BNRA was attacked by PDF forces under the NUG. The very next day, the BNRA leader surrendered to the military, leading to the collapse of the group, which had been formed over nearly five years.
Similarly, in the Yaw region, tensions escalated between the Yaw Defense Force (YDF) and a splinter group known as the Yaw Military Region Office. During a religious donation ceremony hosted by the splinter group’s leader, YDF launched an हमला, killing the leader and another individual while injuring several others.
As these internal conflicts continue alongside battles between resistance forces and the military, the situation in Naypyidaw presents a stark contrast. Based on the results of a recent election held months ago, a parliament has been convened, with a speaker, deputy speaker, and committees formed. Preparations are underway to elect a president in the coming days.
While the country is drowning in hardship and people struggle daily just to survive and avoid death, some military leaders are moving forward with their long-held dream of establishing a presidency.