Centre likely to announce SoO renewal shortly
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 21 2025: Amidst opposition from Kuki CSOs and Kuki volunteers, the Government of India is likely to come out with an official declaration on renewal of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo militant groups anytime soon.

Well placed sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has held several rounds of talks with Kuki-Zo militant groups and the two sides have agreed to extend the SoO agreement.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Kuki-Zo military groups which are signatories of the SoO agreement are quite close to reaching an agreement on amendment of SoO ground rules, re-location of SoO designated camps, particularly those located close to Meitei settlements and National Highways, said the sources.

The two sides have also reached an agreement on collection of biometric data of SoO cadres and also on where and how their weapons should be stored.

Once the renewal of SoO agreement is officially announced, an announcement may also be made to the effect that National Highways are open for free movement of all communities.

So far, Kukis have been refusing to publicly announce that National Highways are open for free movement of all communities and instead toeing the line 'there will be no objection or obstruction to free movement on National Highways'.

However, as they (Kukis) are refusing to make an announcement to this effect, people belonging to a particular community do not feel safe to travel on National Highways.

Taking serious note of this sense of insecurity, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been working hard to see that the Kukis make an announcement that National Highways are open for free movement of all communities, said the sources.

There is a strong possibility of the Kukis coming out with an announcement that National Highways are open for free movement of all communities once the extension of SoO agreement is announced officially, according to the sources.

It was in 2008 that the Government of India and the Government of Manipur signed SoO agreement with UPF and KNO, the two umbrella organisations of dozens of Kuki-Zo militant groups.

Since then, the agreement was renewed every year.

In the meantime, a trilateral political dialogue involving the Government of India, Government of Manipur and UPF and KNO was going on.

The last term of the SoO agreement expired on February 28, 2024 and it has not been officially renewed till date.

On the other hand, several Kuki-Zo CSOs and a large section of Kuki-Zo people have expressed opposition to the renewal of SoO agreement on the ground that the militant groups under SoO agreement have been violating their rights and usurping their shares of benefits given by the Government.

Kuki-Zo people have also been saying that Kuki-Zo militant groups under SoO agreement are being used by the Government of India as a tool.

Apart from the Kuki-Zo people, Meiteis have also voiced strong objection to renewal of SoO agreement.

Several CSOs have been demanding complete abrogation of the SoO agreement.

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