Kuki-Zo Council
The Kuki-Zo Council is a joint body of Kuki-Zo tribal leaders in Manipur, India. It came into being in October 2024 after 18 months of 2023–2025 Manipur violence, in which the Kuki-Zo community felt targeted by the Manipur state government.
During the previous months, the community was represented by Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum in the Churachandpur district and the Committee on Tribal Unity in the Kangpokpi district. After the formation of the Kuki-Zo Council, ITLF and CoTU came to be regarded as local organisations.
Background
The Kuki-Zo people of Manipur, divided into multiple tribes, were riven by internal divisions since the independence of India. Many of the tribes were not comfortable with the term "Kuki" introduced during the British Raj and sought an alternative label. They were also afraid of domination by the Thadou Kukis, who make up roughly half of the entire community. The Old Kukis separated out during the 1940s and the other tribes, with the exception of Thadou Kukis, formed a Zomi umbrella in the 1990s. The Thadou Kukis stood alone in continuing the use of the "Kuki" label.Virtually all tribes formed their own armed groups during the 1990s, for the purpose of protecting their own tribal communities. In the course of negotiating a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Government of India, the armed groups gathered into two umbrella organisations called Kuki National Organisation and United People's Front. They also began to address themselves as "Kuki/Zo people", later changed to "Kuki-Zo people".
With these antecedents, some sort of reunion of all the Kuki-Zo tribes was contemplated. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum was formed on 9 June 2022, with an office based in the Kuki Inpi–Churachandpur complex in Tuibong.
It brought under its umbrella existing tribal organisations such as Kuki Inpi Manipur, Paite Tribe Council, Simte Tribe Council, Vaiphei People's Council, Mizo People's Convention, Hmar Inpui, United Zou Organisation and Gangte Tribe Union.
The description "Indigenous" was chosen presumably to avoid disputes regarding tribal identities. In April 2023, the chief minister N. Biren Singh questioned the "indigenousness" of the organisation.
In the course of the 2023–2025 Manipur violence, the term "Kuki-Zo people" came into widespread use, as a more inclusive alternative to "Kuki people".
Other alternatives such as "Kuki-Zomi", "Kuki-Zomi-Hmar" and "Kuki-Zomi-Hmar-Paite"
were also tried, but "Kuki-Zo" won out by being shorter and being more inclusive.
Establishment
The formation of the Kuki-Zo Council was announced on 11 October 2024, which was described as a "significant milestone" for the Kuki-Zo community. The Council was composed of representatives from various Kuki-Zo tribes and Inpis. The Council members elected five prominent members to lead the Council: Henlianthang Thanglet as the president, Ch. Ajang Khongsai as the chief of the Governing Council, Thangzamang Zou as secretary, G. S. Gangte as finance secretary and Khaikhohauh Gangte as information secretary. A press release said that the Council would act as a formal governing body with tribe presidents and Inpi representatives playing active roles in governance and decision-making.In December 2024, the Kuki-Zo Council convened a general body meeting bringing together over 100 delegates. It was noted that the Council incorporates representatives from every tribe and Inpi organisation, with each president serving on the governing council.
On 17 January 2025, the leaders of Kuki-Zo Council met the Union Ministry of Home Affairs officials in their first formal engagement. The Council delegates stressed the importance of swift political dialogue. The MHA officials have reportedly asked for cessation of violence as a pre-requisite, leading the Council delegates to respond that the demand would need to be made to both sides.
The Council submitted a list of demands to MHA, which included separate administration for Kuki-Zo, improved medical facilities and lasting peace.