SUMMARY
The conflict between NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah faction) and NSCN-U (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Unification faction) originates in NSCN-U’s split from NSCN-IM in 2007. On 23 November 2007, Azheto Chophy, former Kilo Kilonser (Home Minister) of NSCN-IM signed a truce with rival group NSCN-K (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang faction), as a first step to re-create a united National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). However, this truce was denounced by the two top leaders of NSCN-IM Isaac Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah as desertion. Chophy’s faction (of about 40 militants) was further declared by NSCN-IM as traitorous and allied to rival NSCN-K.
Both NSCN-IM and NSCN-U employ similar tactics, small-scale assaults on each other’s camps or positions as well as relatively limited clashes in villages and surrounding jungle. As NSCN-U is an order of magnitude smaller than NSCN-IM (estimates describe NSCN-U’s size never to have exceeded 150 militants, while NSCN-IM’s size is estimated to between 3000 and 4500 militants), the conflict remains highly localized – all of the 11 incidents recorded in the dataset for 2008 occurring in the immediate vicinity of Dimapur, NSCN-U main headquarters. On 26 June 2008, NSCN-U’s main camp in Vihokhu, near Dimapur, was destroyed by an NSCN-IM attack, with NSCN-U militants having to flee. Other than this attack, most recorded clashes have a relatively low intensity – resulting in 1-2 deaths, possibly because of the general NSCN tactics of operating and fighting in very small groups.
There are reports of an alliance between NSCN-U and NSCN-K, and of at least some joint operations between NSCN-U and NSCN-K against NSCN-IM. The Government of India is a concerned party in the dyad, since NSCN-U, unlike NSCN-K or NSCN-IM does not have a cease-fire with the Government.
The non-state conflict between NSCN-IM and NSCN-U is first included in UCDP data in 2008. In June that year clashes between the two factions had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.
