Leaders of the Arakan Army (AA) have allegedly pressured and threatened Rohingya men and women in Mingalar Gyi village, northern Maungdaw Township, to join their forces, according to local sources.

Residents reported that the AA and its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), have been forcibly compiling lists of Rohingya villagers—including men, women, and minors under the age of 18—for compulsory recruitment into military service.

Meeting on Forced Recruitment

On January 7, AA/ULA officials reportedly summoned Rohingya residents of Mingalar Gyi village to a school in nearby Tharsi village for a meeting focused on military recruitment. During the meeting, officials allegedly instructed each household to provide one person for service. If no adult male was available, women were told they would be required to serve instead.

According to participants, AA/ULA representatives also warned villagers not to support any Rohingya armed groups and demanded full cooperation in preparing household-based recruitment lists.

A villager who attended the meeting told that around 9:30 a.m., Rohingya residents were gathered at the school, where AA/ULA officials stated they needed additional personnel for both administrative and military roles. Educated individuals were told they would be assigned to administrative or educational duties under the ULA, while those without formal education would be deployed in combat roles.

The officials reportedly said all recruits would undergo a 45-day training program before being allowed to return home, but could later be redeployed at any time. They further warned that while recruitment was currently being requested verbally, forced conscription from homes would begin if villagers failed to comply.

Movement Restrictions and Fees

Since the recruitment campaign began, the AA has reportedly imposed stricter movement restrictions on Rohingya residents across both northern and southern Maungdaw. Travel for funerals, medical emergencies, or other urgent needs now allegedly requires official permission or recommendation letters from local authorities.

Sources said obtaining such documents typically involves “service fees” ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 kyats.

Growing Fear and Displacement

Observers say the AA/ULA’s forced recruitment efforts target the remaining Rohingya population in Maungdaw, estimated to be only about 5 percent of the township’s original Rohingya community, highlighting what they describe as the group’s ongoing coercive policies toward the minority.

Local sources further reported that the AA/ULA’s actions—including forced conscription and armed intimidation—have raised international concern. As conditions continue to deteriorate, many Rohingya residents reportedly face increasing hardship, prompting some to consider fleeing to Bangladesh in search of safety.

 

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