The Arakan Army (AA) announced yesterday that it will strengthen security along the Arakan-Bangladesh border due to increased activities by Muslim armed groups, and urged local residents to notify the AA before traveling in border areas.

The Arakan Army (AA), which currently controls much of Arakan State, has prioritised fostering social harmony between Arakanese and Muslim communities as part of rebuilding efforts in the region. Muslim administrative and religious leaders said they strongly condemn those attempting to undermine this process.

Since Myanmar's military seized power in February 2021, there have been at least 92 incidents of mass civilian killings across the country, according to a statement released on September 19 by the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar).

Five vendors from Tamanthar Village in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, were reportedly killed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) while on their way to neighbouring Innchaung Village on the border with Bangladesh.

Township-level election commission officials are reportedly providing voting training courses to residents of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, which is controlled by Myanmar's military regime, to help them vote in the upcoming elections.

The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan (ULA) has warned that mosquito breeding rates in Arakan State are increasing, which could lead to a rise in the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses.

More than four years since the coup that launched a nationwide armed uprising against the military regime that seized power, fighting incidents have decreased by more than 50 percent over the past year, according to BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor.

A child was killed and four others were injured, including two other children, when an artillery shell exploded in Mawshan Village, Seikmu Village-Tract, Hpakant Township, Kachin State, at around 4 p.m. on September 17.

A woman from Min Tae Village, West Pharongkha Island, also known as Myengu Island, Pauktaw Township, was injured when artillery shells fired by the junta navy in Sittwe Township exploded nearby.

The prices of basic commodities such as rice, cooking oil, dried chili, and onion are unstable in Arakan State and fluctuate rapidly, causing difficulties for the society's lower classes in particular.

The Myanmar military is reportedly engaged in heavy fighting with a coalition force led by the Arakan Army (AA) near Hsinlan and Nyaungkyoe villages in Padaung Township, Bago Region.

Landmine clearance is reportedly underway in Arakan State's Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, which are controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).

Arakan Army (AA) spokesperson U Khaing Thukha told DMG that allegations linking the AA to drug trafficking into Bangladesh are nothing more than baseless accusations.

More than 170 Muslim teachers from Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships are reportedly working in the Arakkha National Education Department under the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) on Tuesday issued a call for witnesses and first-hand knowledge of a junta airstrike on a boarding school in Thayet Ta Pin Village, part of Arakan State's Kyauktaw Township, to share on-the-ground evidence.

Commander-in-Chief of the Arakan Army Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing and Muslim leaders from Maungdaw district met last month to discuss the needs of Arakan State, according to Muslim leaders and locals.

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on September 14 that elections will not be held for any Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw or State Hluttaw constituencies in 10 Arakan State townships that were lost to the Arakan Army (AA).

A historical mosque in Maungdaw, Arakan State, which had been closed for more than a decade, was reopened on September 12 by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).

A junta airstrike on a boarding school in Thayet Ta Pin Village, part of Arakan State's Kyauktaw Township, has been condemned by civil society organisations, including the Arakan Student's Union, international organisations, and human rights activists.