By: Camp Correspondent
March 22, 2025
More than 200 homes belonging to Rohingya families in the Kyain Taing neighborhood of Maungdaw have been seized by the Arakan Army (AA), as the armed group intensifies its campaign of property confiscation across northern Arakan State.
According to local sources, the AA accused these homeowners of allegedly having links to the military council and marked their properties with red signboards, effectively sealing them off. The move has left dozens of families homeless and deepened fears of targeted discrimination against the Rohingya population.
The affected properties include:
- 29 houses in Sittila village
- 179 houses in western, central, and southern Kyain Taing
- Additional homes across Maungdaw town (exact number still under verification)
In August 2024, many of these residents had already been displaced when drone strikes by the AA during clashes in Maungdaw targeted the neighborhood, forcing families to flee to nearby areas. Those who remained were later relocated under AA orders to IDP zones in northern and southern Maungdaw.
Targeted Seizure of Rohingya Properties
Locals report that these recent confiscations follow a broader trend in which AA forces have been systematically seizing Rohingya properties—particularly homes and businesses—while sparing those belonging to individuals from the majority Rakhine population, even when they are known to have close ties with the military council.
Among those reportedly untouched by these seizures are:
- Maung Maung Kyaw (owner of MK Shop)
- Daw Khin Saw Wai (Ward 4)
- Tun Hla Sein (Ward 1)
- Maung Hla Phyu (Ward 3)
- Ni Maung Chay (Ward 1) in Maungdaw town
In nearby Buthidaung, similar patterns have emerged. Key Rakhine businessmen such as Maung Shwe Thein, Maung Kalu, and U Tin Soe—connected to gold trading and the Maha San festival group—have reportedly retained full control over their properties, despite past collaborations with military authorities.
“A Strategy to Keep Rohingya Powerless”
A Rohingya activist who spoke to Rohingya Khobor described the seizures as part of a larger, calculated strategy.
“This is not about justice or accountability—it’s about power. The Arakan Army is selectively seizing Rohingya homes while protecting their own allies. Their goal is to erase our presence from the region and ensure that our future generations grow up landless, dependent, and without dignity.”
The activist further warned that the situation is part of a long-standing pattern of land confiscation and collective punishment, which has escalated since the AA took control of Maungdaw in December 2024.
With the confiscated homes locked and marked, displaced families now face heightened uncertainty, as they are neither allowed to return nor offered any alternative shelter or compensation.
Human rights groups have yet to receive full access to Maungdaw to independently assess the scale of these property seizures. However, Rohingya sources inside Maungdaw warn that hundreds more families may be affected if the current trend continues.
