BANGKOK — The Arakan Army, a significant ethnic minority armed group, has announced the takeover of the final military outpost in the key western town of Maungdaw, thereby securing complete control over the 271-kilometer (168-mile) border it shares with Bangladesh.
This achievement signifies the group’s consolidation of authority in the northern region of Rakhine state, furthering its aspirations for self-governance.
Rakhine has emerged as a central battleground in Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, with pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic factions vying for autonomy against the military-established regime that seized power in 2021, ousting the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Khaing Thukha, a representative of the Arakan Army, communicated via text message from an undisclosed location on a recent Monday, stating that his group successfully captured the last military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday. According to Thukha, Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun, the commander of the outpost, was among those captured while unsuccessfully attempting to escape.
However, the broader situation in Maungdaw remains difficult to verify due to limited internet and mobile phone services in the area.
The military government of Myanmar has yet to issue a response to these developments.
Maungdaw, located approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) south-west of Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, has been under relentless attack by the Arakan Army since June. Earlier in the year, the group also claimed control of two other border towns, Paletwa and Buthidaung.
Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has taken control of 11 of the 17 townships in Rakhine state, as well as one in the adjacent Chin state.
The strategic town of Ann, which houses a critical military headquarters overseeing the western region, seems poised to fall under the complete control of the Arakan Army.
On Friday, the group shared via the Telegram messaging app that it had taken over more than 30 military outposts, excluding the western command unit that governs Rakhine, the southern part of Chin state, and the territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.
Ongoing clashes in Rakhine have raised serious concerns about the resurgence of organized violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority, reminiscent of the events from 2017 that forced over 740,000 members of this community to flee to Bangladesh.
The Arakan Army, representing the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they form the majority, seeks greater autonomy from the central government of Myanmar. They refute claims of human rights violations, although witnesses have reported concerning actions to various media outlets.
The Rohingya, who have resided in Myanmar for generations, are often viewed by the predominantly Buddhist populace as unlawful migrants from Bangladesh, facing extreme discrimination and denial of citizenship and basic rights.
The Myanmar-Bangladesh border stretches from land areas to the Naf River and extends offshore in the Bay of Bengal.
On Sunday, the Arakan Army announced it had halted transport via the Naf River, citing that local police and affiliated Muslims were attempting to flee to Bangladesh by boat.
The group has faced allegations regarding significant human rights violations, particularly concerning the capture of Buthidaung in May. Reports indicate that around 200,000 residents, predominantly Rohingyas, were compelled to evacuate when the town was overtaken, with many buildings subsequently set ablaze. It has also been accused of attacking fleeing Rohingya civilians amid the ongoing conflict in Maungdaw during August.
The Arakan Army is part of an armed ethnic alliance that has been active in northeastern Myanmar, launching an offensive last year and gaining strategic ground along the border with China.
