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
Arakan Army’s Strategic Dilemma: Sustainability Hinges on Bangladeshi Support
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs the civil conflict in Myanmar intensifies, the Arakan Army (AA) continues to make incremental gains in Rakhine State. However, despite recent territorial advances against the embattled Myanmar military junta, the AA’s aspirations for a de facto independent Arakanese polity face significant structural, geopolitical, and logistical challenges. Chief among these Continue Reading
Air Power in Collapse: Myanmar’s Rakhine Theatre Before and After the War
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe aerial landscape over western Myanmar has undergone a complete transformation between 2020 and 2025. The Myanmar military has lost the ability to conduct or sustain any air operations across Rakhine State. This represents not only a military defeat but a strategic collapse in the domain of air power. The Continue Reading
Bangladesh Plans Border-Based Aid Mission to Support Rohingya in Arakan
Reading Time: 5 minutesBangladesh is in the advanced stages of planning a complex humanitarian operation aimed at delivering vital aid to Rohingya communities trapped in the conflict-affected northern Arakan (Rakhine State, Myanmar). The mission, still firmly in its planning and coordination phase, underscores Dhaka’s commitment to managing the protracted Rohingya crisis while maintaining Continue Reading