In a dramatic escalation of Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, the Arakan Army (AA), the most powerful ethnic minority group in the country, has seized full control of Maungdaw, a strategically vital town located on the border with Bangladesh. This decisive victory marks a significant turning point in the conflict, granting the AA control over a 271-kilometer stretch of the border and solidifying their dominance over northern Rakhine state.
The capture of Maungdaw, announced by AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha to the Associated Press, signifies a major territorial gain for the rebel group. Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun, the outpost commander, was reportedly captured while attempting to flee the battle. This strategic victory builds upon the AA’s previous successes, significantly expanding their control within Rakhine State. The seizure of Maungdaw follows the AA’s suspension of transport across the Naf River, a move undertaken to prevent the escape of police and army-affiliated local Muslims to Bangladesh by boat.
The Arakan Army, the military wing of the Rakhine ethnic community, was founded in 2009 by former student activist Twan Mrat Naing. Its early recruits included jade miners, and the group initially sought refuge with the Kachin Independence Army in northern Myanmar. The group’s profile rose sharply in 2019 when they launched coordinated attacks on four police stations in Rakhine state on Independence Day, prompting then-State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to order a military crackdown, referring to the AA as “terrorists.” A subsequent ceasefire proved short-lived.
Rakhine State has become a central battleground in Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, a conflict pitting pro-democracy guerrillas and various ethnic minority armed forces against the country’s military junta, which seized power in a coup d’état in 2021, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since November 2023, the Arakan Army’s advance has been relentless, capturing 11 out of Rakhine’s 17 townships, along with one in neighboring Chin state. The strategically important town of Ann, home to a major military headquarters overseeing western Myanmar, is now reportedly on the brink of falling under AA control.
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar continues to escalate, and the Arakan Army’s latest victory in Maungdaw highlights the increasingly precarious situation and the significant challenges facing the country’s military government. The international community is closely watching the situation’s developments as the AA consolidates its power in Rakhine State and along the critical Bangladesh border.
