The Myanmar military and an ethnic minority armed group have clashed for a second day near Myawaddy — an important frontier trading point. Thailand has said it is prepared for tens of thousands of refugees.

Thousands are seeking to go abroad before mandatory military service comes into effect in April, for men between 18 and 35 years old and women aged 18 to 27.

These young people are fleeing conscription into Myanmar's military. Thousands are seeking to go abroad before mandatory military service comes into effect in April, for men between 18 and 35 years old and women aged 18 to 27. Anyone who doesn't go into hiding risks being ordered, as a soldier, to commit war crimes.

Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government (NUG) supports the rebel groups that have been fighting the ruling junta since late last year. These groups "have regained almost 60 to 70 percent of the territory," opposition foreign minister Zin Mar Aung told FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman about the ongoing conflict.

Fighting between Myanmar's junta and rebel groups in Rakhine state is growing more intense. Neighboring Bangladesh may soon need to reach out to rebels on security and refugee issues.

Our reporter Constantin Simon managed to secretly enter Myanmar, where he filmed the fighting between the rebels and the ruling junta. He also followed a rebel commander. FRANCE 24 brings you his exclusive 25-minute report.

Myanmar's ruling junta has activated a law that will see men and women called up for at least two years of compulsory military service.

Three years after a coup toppled Myanmar's democratic government, the embattled junta's grip on power is being seriously challenged by armed factions.

This Thursday marks three years since Myanmar's military seized power in a coup, and the country is still beset by a civil war between the ruling junta and armed ethnic groups. On January 7, residents and officials of a small village in western Myanmar said the air force had conducted air strikes killing 17 civilians, but the official state media called the claim "fake news."

Despite China-led peace talks between opposition and junta forces, the situation remains delicate. Myanmar has been in chaos ever since the military overthrew the democratically elected government in February 2021.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar has urged nationals to leave the Laukkai district, in Shan state, because of safety risks. There have been clashes in northeastern Myanmar among the junta and armed ethnic groups.

DW spoke with an armed group in Chin state that includes Buddhists and Christians who said they left civilian life to free Myanmar from the junta's grip on power.