The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body representing the Kuki-Zo communities, has issued a strong advisory cautioning its community members who are government employees against traveling to or accepting postings in Meitei-dominated areas of Manipur. This directive was issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, amidst continuing tensions and a fragile security situation in the region.
The advisory extends to all State and Central Government employees, public sector staff, and private-sector workers belonging to the Kuki-Zo community. The KZC is urging them not to report for duty or accept transfers in areas largely inhabited by the non-tribal Meitei population, particularly in the Imphal Valley districts, including the state capital. The council emphasized that this measure is necessary due to the unresolved conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities and the absence of a mutually agreed political solution or formal settlement that would guarantee the safety of the Kuki-Zo people.
In a press release from its headquarters in Lamka, the KZC stated that the situation on the ground remains "fragile, tense, and unpredictable". The council expressed concerns that, with the installation of a new Meitei-led government, Kuki-Zo employees may be directed or transferred to serve in Meitei-dominated areas. The KZC clarified that the advisory is purely in the interest of safeguarding human life, stressing that "no official duty or administrative order is worth risking personal safety at this critical juncture".
The KZC has urged authorities to recognize the prevailing realities and act responsibly to ensure that no lives are put at risk. They called upon all concerned to exercise utmost caution until peace is restored through justice and a lasting political settlement. The council also noted that in the absence of a credible political solution or mutually accepted agreement, safe movement and coexistence cannot be guaranteed.
Tensions have persisted across several hill districts since the new government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh assumed office on February 4, 2026. Multiple Kuki-Zo organizations have launched protests, shutdowns, and demonstrations, particularly in Churachandpur, opposing the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the government. These actions reflect a broader discontent within the community, with many feeling that their representatives have betrayed their collective resolution to stay out of government without a written commitment to a negotiated political settlement.
The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities has gripped Manipur since May 2023, triggered by a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The violence has resulted in at least 260 deaths, including members of both communities and security personnel, and has displaced thousands. The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Delhi and NCR, has voiced firm opposition to the new government, stating that it lacks "moral or political legitimacy" in the eyes of the Kuki-Zo people. They are demanding a separate administration for the hill districts, arguing that the scale and sustained character of violence have created an irreversible political rupture.
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has appealed for calm and urged all concerned to refrain from violence. He emphasized that restoring peace and normalcy is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. However, the situation remains tense, with protests and shutdowns continuing in Kuki-majority areas.