ARSA resurges with abductions and ambush attacks in northern Maungdaw

By Admin 11 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

11 March 2026, Maungdaw

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has reportedly resumed activities in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, carrying out abductions and ambush attacks that have raised concerns among local residents.

On March 9, ARSA members allegedly abducted six Chakma men from Meetaik Village in Maungdaw Township while they were checking crab traps, according to local sources.

In a separate incident on March 8, ARSA carried out a landmine ambush on a trawlargy (hand-tractor) returning from Kyeinchaung Village to Wailartaung Village after a shopping trip. The attack left two people dead and one person missing.

“Two men were killed and one is still missing. We have searched many places but have not found him yet. His situation is very worrying. The Arakan Army is doing its best to conduct area clearance operations,” a local resident in Maungdaw told DMG.

Local residents say members of Muslim armed groups including ARSA, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) have been infiltrating northern Arakan State by crossing the Naf River and the Mayu Mountain range along the Bangladesh border. These groups frequently carry out ambush attacks on travelers, they said.

Due to ongoing security concerns and threats to their livelihoods, some residents in northern Maungdaw have begun abandoning their villages and relocating to safer areas.

Locals reported that ARSA members have been occupying some of these deserted areas and continuing to carry out abductions, killings and ambush attacks against civilians.

“ARSA is taking advantage of the situation to carry out ambushes. We want the Arakan Army to strengthen security measures even further,” said a resident of Buthidaung Township.

According to local sources, clearance operations targeting Muslim armed groups are ongoing in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships to improve security for local communities.

The armed groups infiltrating Arakan State from the Bangladesh border had remained largely inactive during the recent political transition in Bangladesh but have recently resumed activities.

In a video released on March 8, an armed ARSA leader claimed the group remains active inside Arakan State and vowed to continue fighting the Arakan Army.

“ARSA members are in Arakan State and will never leave. This video is being filmed inside Arakan State. We will attack Arakan Army fighters wherever they go. We will fight until the human rights of the Rohingya are achieved,” the ARSA leader said in the video.

According to a statement released on March 4 by the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO), attacks by Muslim armed groups in Arakan State between November 2023 and January 2026 killed 162 civilians and injured 22 others.

The casualties included 137 Arakanese, 35 Muslims, 34 Hindus, 13 Khami, six Mro and four Chakma people, the report said.