Arakan Army Conscripts Rohingya Youths Including Girls in Buthidaung Township
- Arakan Now
- 14 hours ago
- 1 min read
Arakan Now | 9 Feb 2026
The Arakan Army reportedly summoned residents from several villages on 8 February in Buthidaung Township for a meeting at Doe Don, including WaYa Kyaung Village tract, Doe Dan village , Kyein Chaung village, Zawbor village and Kyun Pauk village in Lay Myo Village Tract! According to a local source.
A resident told Arakan Now that during the meeting, the AA announced the conscription of youths from the area: 20 youths Doe Dan village, 15 youths Kyein Chaung village, 7 youths Zawbor village from WaYa Kyaung Village tract, and 5 from Kyun Pauk village in Lay Myo Village Tract. Reports indicate that both boys and girls have been targeted.
The source further added, an elderly man who attended the meeting asked the AA, "We can’t give women for conscriptions." The AA reportedly replied angrily, saying that if women serve in military service in every Muslim country, there is no reason Rohingya girls can’t serve here.
Earlier, Arakan Now reported that the AA compiled lists for conscription in Hpon Nyo Leik Village. You can find the report here: https://www.arakannow.com/arakan-army-forcibly-conscripts-14-rohingya-youths-in-buthidaung
Today, on 9 Feb, the village administrators conducted a lottery using these lists to determine who would be sent for military service. They stated that the names selected in the lottery must undergo military service as the first batch from Hpon Nyo Leik Village.
Residents said fear of abduction and forced conscription is driving daily departures from villages. Many families have already left, and departures are continuing.
Tensions remain high across Buthidaung Township, where residents fear further forced recruitment and displacement.
