In a landmark political development for the Naga peace process, the Naga National Political Alliance (NNPA), a platform comprising four Naga political groups, formally merged with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) on Wednesday. The unification was marked by a ceremonial event at Hoito Village near Dimapur, attended by top leaders from both factions.
The NNPA groups joining the WC include NSCN-K (Khango-Vusshe), NSCN/GPRN-R (Akato), NPGN/NNC (MK), and UGN/NNC (PB). They now join ranks with the five groups already under WC, NNPGs led by GPRN/NSCN ato kilonser and convener N. Kitovi Zhimomi.
Addressing media after the ceremony, Kitovi stated that the merger stemmed from a shared desire to bring together Naga groups under one platform to pursue a lasting and inclusive political settlement. “There is already a mutually accepted Agreed Position with the Government of India. We will continue working within that framework,” he said. Kitovi also extended an open invitation to other Naga political groups, urging unity for the future of the Naga people. “The political issue belongs to every Naga. There is no reason to keep anyone out who genuinely wants a solution,” he added.
NSCN/GPRN-R president Akato Chophi, one of the key leaders from the NNPA, hailed the merger as a “historic beginning,” emphasizing that it was long overdue. “Nagas have been divided for too long. Instead of fighting for our people, many groups have been busy strengthening their own factions. This must change,” he said, calling on all Naga groups to shed past differences and join the collective path toward peace.
Chophi stressed that NNPA no longer exists as a separate entity and that all four of its member groups will now function under the WC, NNPGs banner. However, he noted that the competencies and perspectives of NNPA would be brought into the ongoing negotiations and integrated into the agreed position with the Government of India.
G. Naga, secretary of WC-NNPGs and supervisor of the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB), also spoke on the significance of the event. “This merger was in the works for quite some time. The leadership from both sides have been in regular communication. The main goal is unity and a collective approach to achieving an early solution,” he said, calling the development a “huge milestone” in resolving the protracted Indo-Naga political issue.
The event also saw the signing of a formal ‘Deed of Commitment’ between WC-NNPGs and NNPA leaders. This document outlined the unified intent of both groups to work toward an early, inclusive, and honourable solution in line with the ‘Agreed Position’ signed between WC-NNPGs and the Government of India on November 17, 2017.
The signatories acknowledged the public’s growing call for convergence among Naga political groups and reiterated their faith in the ‘Status Paper’, which they said offers political and administrative clarity for all Nagas across different states and regions. The document also mentions that the WC, NNPGs will, in principle, request the inclusion of NNPA’s competencies into the agreed framework with the Government of India.
The Deed also stated that in the event the Centre proposes a common draft that includes all core values of the existing political agreements, the new unified body will extend full cooperation.
“This merger is not just symbolic. It is a strategic step forward,” the leaders jointly declared. “From today onward, NNPA ceases to exist as a separate entity. It is now an equal and contributing partner within WC, NNPGs under the convenorship of N. Kitovi Zhimomi.”
The Deed was jointly signed by N. Kitovi Zhimomi (GPRN/NSCN), Kiumukam Yimkhiung (NNC), Toshi Walling (NNC-PB), Shitoho Chophy (NPGN/NNC), and Akiuba Yimkhiung (NNC-PB) from WC-NNPGs. From NNPA, the signatories included Akato Chophi (NSCN-R), Khango Konyak and Hokato Vusshe (NSCN-K), Mhathung Tsopoe and Kiyelho Wokhami (NPGN/NNC-MK), and Kieutsangkiu and Nupavi Achumi (UGN/NNC-PB).
