MANDALAY, Dec 11: The Arakan Army, one of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic minority armed groups, has claimed control of the last military outpost in the strategic town of Maungdaw, completing its dominance over the 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh. This development marks a significant step in the group’s ongoing struggle for autonomy in Rakhine state, a region at the heart of Myanmar’s nationwide civil war.
The Arakan Army has steadily gained control of northern Rakhine, with its capture of Maungdaw solidifying its hold on the region. The conflict is part of a broader resistance against Myanmar’s military rulers, who seized power in 2021 after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, confirmed the seizure of the last outpost via text message late Monday, stating that the outpost commander, Brigadier General Thurein Tun, was captured while attempting to flee.
The Arakan Army’s offensive in Rakhine began in June and has led to the capture of Paletwa and Buthidaung, two key towns near the Bangladesh border. Since November 2023, the group has taken control of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 townships and one township in neighboring Chin state.
The strategically important town of Ann, which houses the military headquarters overseeing western Myanmar, is reportedly on the verge of falling to the group. The Arakan Army claims to have seized over 30 military outposts in Rakhine, leaving only the western command under military control.
Recent fighting in Rakhine has sparked fears of renewed violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Rohingya, who have lived in Myanmar for generations, face widespread discrimination and are largely denied citizenship and basic rights. In 2017, violence forced over 740,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
The Arakan Army has denied allegations of targeting Rohingya civilians, but witnesses have reported serious human rights violations. The group was accused of forcibly displacing approximately 200,000 Rohingya from Buthidaung in May and setting fire to their homes. Similar allegations have emerged regarding the group’s actions during the Maungdaw offensive in August.
On Sunday, the Arakan Army ordered the suspension of transport across the Naf River, citing attempts by police and local Muslims allied with the Myanmar military to escape to Bangladesh by boat.
Myanmar’s military government has not yet commented on the situation. Limited access to internet and mobile networks in the region has made independent verification of the events difficult.
The border region, extending from land to the Naf River and into the Bay of Bengal, remains a flashpoint in the broader conflict between Myanmar’s military rulers and ethnic minority groups seeking self-rule. The Arakan Army’s recent advances highlight the ongoing complexity and volatility of Myanmar’s civil war, raising urgent concerns about human rights and regional stability.
