Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) / Arakan National Council (ANC)
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFounded: ALP (1967); ANC (umbrella body, 2004)Base of Operations: Southern Rakhine; former ties to Thai borderIdeology: Rakhine nationalism; federal Myanmar frameworkObjective: Rakhine autonomy within federal union; not secessionist ➤ Order of Battle (ORBAT) Estimate Component Estimate Notes Total Armed Personnel 300–500 Mostly symbolic units; not combat active Leadership Based in Continue Reading
Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO)
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFounded: 1982 (dormant for periods)Base of Operations: Border region of Bangladesh–Myanmar (Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf side historically)Ideology: Secular Rohingya nationalismObjective: Restore political rights of Rohingyas in Arakan; reclaim homeland ➤ Order of Battle (ORBAT) Estimate Component Estimate Notes Total Fighters <500 Highly decentralised; some cells in refugee camps Weapons Obsolete small Continue Reading
Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)
Reading Time: < 1 minuteArakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) Also Known As: Harakah al-Yaqin (former)Founded: 2016Base of Operations: Maungdaw–Buthidaung belt near Bangladesh borderIdeology: Islamist-Rohingya nationalist (Salafist leanings)Objective: Defend Rohingya population and reclaim rights in Rakhine State ➤ Order of Battle (ORBAT) Estimate Component Estimate Notes Total Fighters 500 – 1,000 Organised in village-level cells Continue Reading
Arakan Army (AA)
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAlso Known As: Arakan Liberation Army (in propaganda)Political Wing: United League of Arakan (ULA)Founded: 2009Base of Operations: Northern and Central Rakhine; Paletwa (Chin State); Western Sagaing (limited)Ideology: Rakhine ethno-nationalism; secular; anti-juntaObjective: Establish autonomous or independent Arakan state with AA/ULA as core governing force ➤ Order of Battle (ORBAT) Component Estimate Continue Reading
Assessment of Active Non-State Armed Groups in Rakhine State
Reading Time: 2 minutesGroup Name Affiliation/Ideology Strength Areas of Operation Capabilities External Links Intentions/Objectives Risks/Concerns Arakan Army (AA) Ethno-nationalist; Rakhine self-determination under ULA (United League of Arakan) Estimated 20,000–30,000 fighters Northern and central Rakhine; parts of Chin and Paletwa Well-trained infantry, guerrilla tactics, rudimentary artillery, limited drones Alleged covert ties with China-linked networks; Continue Reading