Reports: Arakan Army destroying Rohingya villages and forcing displacement in northern Rakhine

What happened

The Guardian Myanmar reports that since the insurgent Arakan Army (AA) took control of most of northern Rakhine state in 2024, satellite imagery and survivor accounts document extensive destruction of Rohingya villages and forced relocations. The AA has allegedly cleared at least 23 Rohingya villages, repurposing at least 800 hectares of land for military use and settlements for other communities, displacing thousands of Rohingya.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The displaced Rohingya, many now confined to makeshift camps like Hnget Thay, face harsh conditions described as prison-like. These camps formed following violent clashes and massacres such as the one at Hoyyar Siri, where Human Rights Watch documented killings by AA forces. Testimonies also report forced labor, confiscation of land and farm tools, and severe restrictions on agriculture imposed by the AA.

Since the 2016-2017 military crackdown by Myanmar forces that led to mass Rohingya displacement to Bangladesh, the insurgent AA’s actions represent a new phase of hardship for the Rohingya still in Myanmar. The Guardian cites UN sources describing ‘catastrophic’ abuses including forced conscription, arbitrary arrests, and gender-based violence endured by Rohingya under ongoing conflict between AA and government forces vying for control of Rakhine.

Known from the source

• The Arakan Army gained control of most of northern Rakhine state in 2024.
• Satellite images and testimonies document destruction of at least 23 Rohingya villages and seizure of at least 800 hectares of land since 2024.
• Displaced Rohingya live in camps such as Hnget Thay, formed after massacres including one at Hoyyar Siri.
• Human Rights Watch documented killings of unarmed Rohingya by AA forces at Hoyyar Siri.
• There has been a significant reduction in battles in Buthidaung area from 103 in 2024 to 12 in 2025 as per Acled data.

What remains unclear

AA’s consolidation of territory in northern Rakhine has decreased active battles according to conflict monitor Acled, but the humanitarian situation appears to have deteriorated for Rohingya residents. Videos obtained by The Guardian show destroyed villages and cleared land where communities once lived, with Rohingya residents forbidden to return home or farm their land.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of the number and scale of villages destroyed or cleared by the AA. Confirmation of the responsibility for specific massacres and killings cited. Verification of displacement figures and percentages mentioned by the Guardian and UN sources.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: The Guardian Myanmar. Open the source.