SUMMARY

NSCN-U (National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Unification faction) is a Naga insurgent group fighting the Government of India for an independent Nagaland (Nagalim) in North Eastern India. NSCN-U splintered on 23 November 2007 from NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah faction), after a group of militants, led by NSCN-IM Kilo Kilonter (Home Affairs Minister) Azheto Chophy signed a truce with rival faction NSCN-K (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang). The top leadership of NSCN-IM, however, refused to accept the truce, claiming the Chophy faction deserted the group and joined rival NSCN-K. As such, NSCN-U became the target of NSCN-IM’s attacks.

NSCN-U’s goal, beyond an independent homeland for the Naga people, is to reunite NSCN-IM and NSCN-K into something resembling the original pre-1988 National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

The leadership of the group is collective, through a ‘core committee’, headed by Azheto Choppy as ‘Convener’. NSCN-U’s strength is estimated at 200 militants, with their main area of operations being Vihokhu, 25 kilometres from Dimapur in Nagaland. The group is allied to NSCN-K, the two groups having participated in joint attacks against NSCN-IM in 2008.

NSCN-U has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.