The Myanmar armed forces (Tatmadaw) said it will extend its unilateral ceasefire in northern Myanmar, and also expects to sign bilateral deals with ethnic armed groups in the next two months. According to an article in Frontier, the initial ceasefire was first announced on 21st December, 2018. It was due to expire on 30th June but has now been extended until 31st August. The Tatmadaw said the extension was “in keeping with the expectations of the local ethnic people for peace”. It is aimed at enhancing confidence in the country’s peace process. Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun, secretary of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, told Frontier that the military expects to sign bilateral ceasefire agreements with several groups in the next two months. “During the past six months there were no clashes with ethnic armed groups,” he said. He was referring to the fighting in the country’s north, and not the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State.