AA Members Harassing and Looting Rohingya in the Villages of Maungdaw Township

Arakan Now - 27 June 2025

A group of Arakan Army members is actively harassing, threatening, and looting Rohingya civilians in several villages in northern Maungdaw Township, according to villagers and local shopkeepers.

The incidents are happening in Dahgyi Zah (ဓားကြီးစား), Thu Oohla (သူဦးလာ), and Thayet village tracts (သရက်ကျေးရွာအုပ်စု) of Maungdaw Township. Villagers said AA soldiers are entering their areas almost daily under the name of “security patrols,” but instead, they are committing abuses.

“They come into our shops in broad daylight, take whatever they want without paying, and walk away,” according to a Rohingya shopkeeper of Maungdaw Township. “They have been doing this repeatedly for many days.”

Residents said the soldiers also insult them and use threats. “They say things like, ‘This is not your country. If you don’t like it, leave,’” one villager reported. “People are afraid all the time. We are living under pressure and fear.”

A shop owner shared a night incident: “About 11 PM, they broke into my shop. They damaged the door, stole goods, and destroyed some items. We cannot say anything or report it.”

When villagers went to the AA-appointed administrator in Thu Oohla village, Mamad Rawshed, and his secretary, Mamad Jamal, for help, they were told that even the administrator is beaten by some AA soldiers and that many of them act violently, especially when drunk.

“He said he had no control over them and told us to just tolerate it,” a villager said.

Although the AA claims full control of Maungdaw Township, including administration and security, the situation for Rohingya residents remains unsafe and unequal, according to locals and former aid workers.

“Discrimination against Rohingya is still happening,” said a former humanitarian worker from the area. “The AA’s local rule is not fair to all people.”