The Arakan Army (AA) has issued a security warning to residents in southern Maungdaw Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State, after recent sightings of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) operatives in the Mayu Mountains.
AA officials said combatants from ARSA and other Muslim militant groups have been infiltrating the mountainous area from the Bay of Bengal, often disguising themselves as fishermen at night. Their presence has been reported near villages including Aungthukha, Inndin, Paeyone, and Kyaukpandu.
“Lately, AA officials have been stopping by the village administrators’ homes to give security updates. The administrators then use loudspeakers to tell everyone to stay alert when traveling. They’re advising people to go in groups if they have to head into the mountains, like for collecting firewood,” a resident of Aungthukha Village told DMG.
Locals said that militants from ARSA, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) frequently cross into Maungdaw from Bangladesh via jungle routes or by boat. Once inside, they often operate in the Mayu mountain range.
These groups have previously carried out attacks in Buthidaung, Rathedaung, and Maungdaw townships, including ambushes on travelers, killings, kidnappings, and extortion. Such threats have heightened fear among local farmers and fishermen, many of whom now hesitate to continue their daily work.
“I rely on fishing at sea to support my family. But when I go out, especially at night, I’m really scared. We often spot groups of strangers near the shore, and sometimes I have to turn back without fishing because I feel something’s not right,” a local fisherman said.
Security concerns escalated on October 22, 2025, when ARSA militants ambushed a passenger vehicle traveling from Saydipyin Village in Rathedaung Township to Kyaukpandu Village in Maungdaw Township. Two women were killed and two men were injured in the attack.
Amid ongoing threats, residents are urging the AA to strengthen border security measures to better protect civilians from militant activity in the region.
