MAUNGDAW, Myanmar — The Arakan Army (AA), an armed group operating in Rakhine State, has reportedly compelled young Rohingya women from Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships to join its military ranks, igniting fear and anxiety among local Rohingya communities already enduring severe hardships.
On October 6, AA officials convened residents at the Maungdaw administrative office and demanded the conscription of 50 unmarried women from Maungdaw and another 50 from Buthidaung, according to multiple local sources. Families describe relentless pressure to comply, fearing violent reprisals if they resist the AA’s conscription demands, given the group’s armed presence and control over the region.
“This forced recruitment is terrifying our community,”
said a resident of Maungdaw who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
“We live in constant fear — if we refuse, the consequences could be deadly for our daughters and families.”
Human rights observers have voiced grave concern over these developments.
“The forced enlistment of women contravenes international humanitarian law and further destabilizes an already volatile situation,”
said a spokesperson for Rohingya Return, a rights advocacy organization focused on Rohingya issues.
The organization has documented the coercive recruitment tactics used by armed groups and warned of the psychological and physical risks imposed on the young women.
Rohingya communities under AA influence already face extensive insecurity and displacement risks since decades of ethnic violence and statelessness have left them vulnerable. The forced conscription deepens the trauma and threatens to undermine the safety and dignity of Rohingya women, many of whom are minors or young adults.
UN human rights experts have previously condemned the use of forced recruitment by armed groups in Myanmar, urging immediate protections for civilians. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that over 140,000 Rohingya remain displaced in Rakhine State, reliant on humanitarian aid amid ongoing conflict and instability.
The Arakan Army has not issued any public statement regarding these allegations.
This incident underscores the urgent need for international attention to protect Rohingya civilians, especially vulnerable women, from forced militarization and escalating violence in Myanmar’s conflict zones.
