The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Naga tribes in Manipur, has enforced an indefinite "trade embargo" across all Naga-majority areas of the state starting September 8, 2025. This action is a protest against the central government's decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and proceed with fencing the India-Myanmar border. The UNC had announced the embargo after a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on August 26, 2025, failed to produce a resolution.

The embargo is expected to disrupt the movement of goods trucks on National Highway 2 (NH-2) and National Highway 37 (NH-37), crucial supply routes connecting Manipur's capital to Nagaland and facilitating the transport of essential commodities from neighboring states. Reports indicate that many vehicles, including those carrying essential goods, have been stranded along the Manipur border in the Senapati district. Activists from the UNC and other Naga organizations have staged demonstrations and blockades at various points along these highways.

The UNC views the central government's actions as disregarding the traditional land rights of the Nagas. They claim the boundary between India and Myanmar was arbitrarily demarcated without Naga consent. The proposed border fence, estimated to cost ₹31,000 crore and cleared in March 2024, is a significant point of contention. The UNC argues that the fencing would physically bifurcate over 1,000 km of the "Naga homeland" across Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, severing ties with Nagas in Myanmar.

The Free Movement Regime (FMR) was introduced in 1950 and restructured in 1968, allowing cross-border movement without visas within 40 km. This limit was reduced to 16 km in 2004 and further to 10 km before being entirely suspended in February 2024. The government has stated that the FMR was suspended to control illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the proliferation of firearms. The UNC, however, believes that the FMR and the unfenced border are vital for maintaining socio-economic, cultural, and familial ties between Nagas on both sides of the border.

The UNC has declared the trade embargo as the beginning of a "non-cooperation movement" that will continue until their grievances are addressed. They are demanding that the government obtain free, prior, and informed consent from the Naga people for any project affecting them and their land. The Naga body is also calling for an end to movement restrictions along the Indo-Myanmar border and a halt to detention, harassment, and surveillance activities in the Naga homeland.

The situation is further complicated by the involvement of other groups and historical tensions. The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has accused the UNC of being influenced by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and cautioned against any unrest in Zeliangrong areas. Additionally, the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Sagolmang Area Naga Students' Association have condemned acts of violence, such as the reported interception of a bus by Kuki extremists.

The UNC's trade embargo has raised concerns about potential shortages and disruptions to essential supplies in Manipur, particularly in the Imphal Valley. The government is under pressure to manage the situation and prevent further escalation, especially with a potential visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the horizon.