Although the Arakan Army (AA) has seized control of the Arakan-Bangladesh border area, it has not yet been able to fully consolidate its control, and cross-border militant attacks continue to occur frequently, according to Rakhine conflict observers and the international community.
Observers note that the ongoing cross-border attacks by so-called Rohingya armed militants along the Arakan-Bangladesh border are evidence that the AA has not yet achieved full control over the region.
“In the forested and mountainous areas along the Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung border triangle, ARSA and RSO Bengali militants have been steadily growing in strength day by day, and incidents of sabotage and harassment using various tactics have been increasing repeatedly,” said U Hla Htun Kyaw, a former member of the People’s Parliament, speaking to Border News Agency.
“Given the current situation, we hope that people who are experiencing these issues firsthand will eventually come to see the need to participate and contribute as much as they can,” he added.
During the final phase of the Arakan war, the Arakan Army (AA) managed to fully seize control of Maungdaw Township along the Arakan-Bangladesh border on December 8, 2024. However, local residents report that armed attacks by militants identifying as Rohingya continue to occur frequently.
According to locals in Maungdaw, on the morning of March 29, around 7 am., four civilians traveling from Myawady Village to Auk Gandari Village in Maungdaw Township were abducted and brutally killed by the ARSA group while crossing the mountain trail. Their bodies were later found dumped along the route near Mayu Mountain and Badagar Mountain.
On March 29, two Arakan Army (AA) soldiers were killed after being ambushed by so-called Rohingya militants while traveling on motorcycles along the Taungpyu-Kyeinchaung road in the Arakan-Bangladesh border area.
So-called Rohingya militants have frequently carried out ambushes and attacks in the Arakan-Bangladesh border region, resulting in casualties among both civilians and Arakan Army (AA) personnel.
As a result, the Arakan Army (AA) is expected to take decisive action to eliminate militants identifying as “Rohingya.” However, human rights activists argue that these armed militants do not represent the Rohingya people and are not acting in their interests.
“ARSA, RSO, and ARA militants do not represent the Rohingya people. To this day, they have only supported Min Aung Hlaing’s regime. It’s important to differentiate between them and the Rohingya people. These armed groups are operating for their own interests and for the benefit of their organizations. I believe such militant groups should not exist in Arakan. The responsibility to dismantle these groups lies with ULA/AA,” said U Maung Maung Kyi, a committee member of the Multi-religion Spring Revolutionary Network, speaking to Border News Agency.
Local residents in Maungdaw report that the Arakan Army (AA) has yet to fully ensure security along the Arakan-Bangladesh border, and the so-called Rohingya armed militants have not been completely eradicated. As a result, civilians are left in a state of insecurity and fear.
According to refugees, a so-called Rohingya militant group gathered nearly one million refugees in Bangladesh’s refugee camps on December 25 of the past year. They held a meeting, encouraging cooperation to carry out violent activities against the Arakan civilians and the Arakan Army.
Some of these groups are responsible for carrying out militant activities along the Arakan-Bangladesh border, while others are operating across the entire Naf River, from the Alay Than Kyaw beach area to the Ah Ngu Maw area, according to the Muslim community.
These militants are reported to be disguising themselves as fishermen, using fishing boats to move along the Naf River. They are reportedly trying to enter the Mayu mountain range, where they seek to carry out their operations during night-time or when opportunities arise.
On December 24th of the past year, a vehicle traveling from Kyainchaung village to the Taungpro Letwe Town for shopping was attacked by a group of militants claiming to represent the Rohingya. The attack resulted in the death of one woman, and several others sustained injuries, according to local residents of Maungdaw.
Due to the ongoing threats from these militants, ethnic minority groups in Maungdaw are increasingly worried about their safety, making travel and work much more difficult, as expressed by the Mro community.
“The difficulties are overwhelming; we can’t go down to the fields anymore. We are afraid. Right now, we are afraid to work in the fields because of the ARSA militants,” said a member of the Mro community in Maungdaw Township, speaking to Border News Agency.
Four Mro people from Kainggyi village in Maungdaw Township went missing on September 30th of the past year while searching for fish near a local stream. As of now, their whereabouts remain unknown, according to Mro locals from the area.
In addition, on December 5th of the past year, ARSA militants entered Sinsweya village in Buthidaung Township, set fire to the village, and carried out an attack. They killed a 16-year-old girl and abducted five men, according to locals in Buthidaung Township.
The Arakan-Bengal border region, being vast and densely forested, allows militants to take refuge and continue committing violent acts. Locals in the Muslim villages mentioned that civilians are often caught in the midst of these attacks, with armed militants mingling within the villages.
After the Arakan Army fully seized control of the Maungdaw District, Rohingya militants, including ARSA, RSO, and ARA groups, have escalated their violent activities with increased manpower, making it difficult for civilians to feel safe. According to locals, this surge in militant activity has led to a significant decrease in the safety and security of ordinary people.
In Maungdaw District, armed Rohingya groups such as ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organization), and ARA (Arakan Rohingya Army), as well as other armed Muslim militants, have been carrying out acts of violence against the civilian population, according to the residents of Arakan.
Political analysts suggest that the ongoing violence is targeted at civilians, as the armed groups are also seeking to control territory, which is driving the increase in violent activities.
“ARSA, RSO, and other groups in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw regions collaborated with the military junta to fight against the Arakan Army. When they failed, and the military junta collapsed, they began rallying all extremist Muslims to launch a full-scale offensive into Arakan. Some have even entered the region, causing inconvenience to local civilians at border areas and engaging in drug trafficking,” said U Aung Thaung Shwe, a former representative from Buthidaung Township, in an interview with Border News Agency.
In Maungdaw District, armed Rohingya extremists are reported to have over a thousand members, and their daily violent activities have led local civilians to feel the need to undergo self-defense training to protect themselves and their villages, according to residents.
As Myanmar’s people continue to fight against the military junta, analysts note that the Rohingya militants, who are collaborating with the junta, will likely face defeat by the Arakan Army, which is gaining momentum in its efforts to dismantle the military junta’s power in the region.
In areas controlled by the Arakan Army, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is implementing administrative structures and engaging in rebuilding efforts, while so-called Rohingya militants, according to Arakanese residents, continue to disrupt these processes with acts of violence and destruction.
Those so called Rohingya militants, based primarily in refugee camps in Bangladesh, are reported to have an estimated force of over a thousand, operating along the Arakan-Bangladesh border. They are allegedly preparing to launch attacks on Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships, with military training already underway in anticipation of these operations, according to sources within the Muslim refugee community.
Arakanese residents have reported that, despite the Arakan Army (AA)’s statements regarding operations to eliminate militants in the Maungdaw region, civilians are still frequently subjected to unlawful arrests, killings, and disappearances. These incidents continue to occur regularly, adding to the ongoing challenges faced by the local population.
