Ethnic communities voice safety concerns over ARSA activities along Mayu Mountain Range

By Admin 22 Dec 2025

DMG Newsroom

22 December 2025, Maungdaw

Local ethnic communities have expressed concern over their security in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, which are under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), amid recent activities by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Residents say ARSA members have recently been seen moving with weapons in villages and forested areas along the Mayu Mountain Range, which lies between Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.

“We are very worried about possible ARSA attacks in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships. As traders, we feel especially unsafe when Muslim armed groups operate using guerrilla tactics,” said a resident of Buthidaung Township. “Young people from ethnic communities are particularly affected as they work in the mountains and have to travel frequently to remote areas.”

An ethnic Daingnet resident of Buthidaung Township said ARSA members had been sighted moving in and out of areas near Nyaungchaung Village in the Mayu Mountain Range over the past few days.

“We see ARSA members moving around quite often. Sometimes we encounter them when we go into the forest, but we don’t dare look at them closely,” he said. “Even when we inform the Arakan Army and they search the area, the group is usually no longer there.”

Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships are home to various ethnic groups, including Arakanese, Mro, Khami, Thet, Daingnet, Maramagyi, Muslims and Hindus. Locals say many villages are hard to access, sparsely populated and face security challenges.

Some villages reportedly have very few residents as many locals have gone abroad for work in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and China.

Residents also report that ARSA members and other Muslim militants have been seen posing as fishermen in coastal areas and along the Naf River in Maungdaw Township, which borders Bangladesh.

“ARSA members and other Muslim militants are disguising themselves as ordinary fishermen,” said an ethnic Mro resident of Maungdaw Township. “Looking at previous killings of Arakan Army fighters, some of the attackers may have posed as fishermen. This makes ethnic communities like ours even more concerned about our safety.”

In September, individuals disguised as fishermen reportedly entered Maungdaw Township illegally to fish, killed two Arakan Army security personnel, seized weapons and fled into Bangladeshi waters.

A resident of Rathedaung Township said ARSA members are frequently seen in Inndin, Thawinchaung, Cheinkhalein and Kyaukpandu villages in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships.

Although the Arakan Army controls Buthidaung, Maungdaw and the border with Bangladesh, locals say ARSA and other Muslim armed groups continue to carry out ambushes and attacks targeting AA troops.

While the Arakan Army remains focused on border security, it is also facing continued security challenges linked to ARSA activities in the region.