The junta has expanded its security infrastructure in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan (Rakhine) State, by constructing new fences around entry and exit points, military installations, and army bases as it continues to maintain control over the city.
To block possible movement of Arakan Army (AA) fighters into the city and restrict civilian movement in and out, it has been installing barbed wire and fencing along Strand (Kanna) Road and around ‘The Point,’ a popular viewing platform overlooking the Indian Ocean. These works have been ongoing since August 2024.
With many of the earlier bamboo posts now decayed and weakened, and barbed wire sections rusting and breaking in places, it is now reinforcing the perimeter using new concrete pillars.
“The bamboo fences that were set up along Strand Road have broken down in some places. Holes are being dug to install concrete posts to replace the damaged ones. We can also see fences being erected around army camps and military positions,” a female resident of Sittwe said.
In Sittwe, where the risk of conflict always looms, the junta has tightened security both inside and outside the city. Since early April, it has also intensified nighttime operations under the pretext of guest list inspections, carrying out frequent raids across urban wards. During these operations, multiple arrests have been reported, particularly in densely populated downtown areas.
On May 9, junta soldiers arrested six internally displaced men sheltering at Seitta Thukha Monastery in Sittwe. One of them reportedly died after being beaten during interrogation.
“We can see new fences have been built at the entry and exit points of Sittwe. The junta is also repairing damaged sections and completely blocking off previously open access points with new fencing. Overnight guest list checks are happening two or three times every night. It’s obvious the junta is tightening its security grip on the city,” a man from Sittwe said.
Residents in Sittwe said they are living under constant fear due to arbitrary arrests, interrogations, beatings, and threats carried out by the coup regime.
The AA currently controls most territory across Arakan State, leaving only three major towns—Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung—under junta control.
In April, the commander-in-chief of the AA, Major General Twan Mrat Naing, declared that it aims to fully capture the remaining junta-held urban areas in Arakan State before the end of 2027.
Observers said this declaration has likely prompted it to further prioritize the defense of Sittwe.
“Major General Twan Mrat Naing has promised to fully remove the junta’s control capability in Arakan State before the end of 2027. Sittwe is the last remaining major target for the AA in northern Arakan State. Because of this, the junta is likely very concerned and is preparing as best as it can,” an observer monitoring the military situation in Arakan State said.
While active clashes between it and the AA in Sittwe are currently limited, the junta is strengthening its military presence within the city and reinforcing defensive positions.
As part of its broader defensive preparations, it has also forced residents from more than 20 Arakan villages on the outskirts of Sittwe to relocate into the town center since 2024, effectively restricting their movement and trapping them inside the city.
Sittwe also functions as a key economic and strategic hub in Arakan State, hosting foreign-backed infrastructure including the India-supported Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, as well as a border trade station connected to Bangladesh.
With all entry and exit routes to Sittwe blocked, commodity prices have surged sharply, pushing locals into severe livelihood hardship and worsening living conditions.
