By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, Arakan State – March 30, 2025
More than 30 members of the Arakan Army (AA), including foreign mercenaries, have reportedly fled from AA-controlled battalions in Maungdaw Township, triggering a covert search operation across northern Arakan (Rakhine) State.
According to sources close to the ground, the escapees had been stationed at Nakaka 05—a former Border Guard Police Battalion base—and Naymay 06, a former junta police outpost in Pyin Phyu village. Both bases are located in northern Maungdaw and were taken over by the AA in late 2024 during clashes with the military council forces.
“More than 30 AA fighters deserted their positions. The group is now searching for them discreetly, even using Rohingya civilians to assist in the search,” said a local source familiar with the developments.
Unpaid Mercenaries From Nepal, Bangladesh Among Escapees
AA reportedly recruited thousands of fighters from Nepal, Bangladesh, and southern Rakhine on short-term contracts to assist in capturing Nakaka 05. These recruits were promised six-month contracts with pay, but after Maungdaw was fully captured in December 2024, many found themselves unpaid and unable to return home.
“Some escaped with weapons and ammunition. Others fled unarmed. Many of them are from Nepal, Bangladesh, and even parts of southern Maungdaw. They left their posts between March 25 and 29,” a source with ties to AA insiders confirmed.
Rohingya Civilians Pressured to Aid in Search
As part of its internal response, AA is said to be conducting quiet investigations in Rohingya villages near the escaped fighters’ last known positions. Residents report that AA members are pressuring Rohingya civilians to report sightings and, in some cases, forcing them to assist in the manhunt.
Local communities fear retaliation if they fail to cooperate. One villager in northern Maungdaw told Rohingya Khobor:
“They’re using us to look for people we don’t even know. We’re being dragged into something that isn’t our fight.”
Growing Discontent Within AA Ranks
The desertions highlight internal tensions within AA’s ranks, particularly among foreign recruits. Amid unpaid dues, lack of supplies, and difficult conditions, fighters from outside the region are reportedly frustrated with what they describe as broken promises.
The current whereabouts of the deserters remain unknown. AA has not made any public statements on the matter.
As the group expands its control over northern Arakan, this incident raises questions about the sustainability of its recruitment model and the growing involvement of foreign fighters in the region’s conflict dynamics.
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