Rohingya Men and Women Forced to Join Armed Group in Maungdaw

by Hafizur Rahman

Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State. January 09, 2026

Rohingya residents from Kyauk Hla Ka village in northern Maungdaw Township say they are being forced to join the Arakan Army, with recruitment orders reportedly extending to women and children under the age of 18.

According to local sources, members of the Arakan Army held a meeting at a village school on January 7, where they ordered every Rohingya household to provide one person for military service. Villagers said the instruction was delivered without room for discussion or refusal.

“They told us clearly that if there is no man in the house, a woman must go,” a Rohingya resident said. “Everyone was frightened. No one dared to speak.”

Residents said AA members collected household registration lists during the meeting and warned that refusal to comply would lead to severe punishment. Some villagers reported being accused of supporting rival armed groups if they did not cooperate.

“They said if we refuse, they will label us as enemies,” another Rohingya man told Rohingya Khobor. “We are civilians. We have nothing to do with fighting. We just want to live peacefully.”

At the same time, Rohingya residents say movement restrictions in Maungdaw have become increasingly strict. Travel between villages and town areas is now heavily controlled. Even in cases of medical emergencies, funerals, or urgent family matters, people must obtain official permission.

“To go to the hospital, we need a travel letter,” a Rohingya woman said. “And we have to pay money for it. Poor families cannot manage these costs.”

Local sources said permission letters cost between 10,000 and 20,000 kyats each, placing an additional burden on families already struggling to survive.

Community members say only a small number of Rohingya now remain in Maungdaw, after years of displacement, violence, and restrictions. They warn that forcing the remaining population into armed service shows how unsafe the situation has become.

“We have survived many forms of suffering,” an elderly Rohingya man said quietly. “Now we feel trapped again. There is no safety left for us here.”

Because of growing fear, pressure, and daily threats, residents say some families are once again preparing to flee. Local people report quiet discussions about crossing into Bangladesh, despite the risks, in search of safety.

“Life here is getting worse every day,” a young Rohingya man said. “We do not know what will happen tomorrow.”