Arakan Army Continues Arresting Rohingya in Buthidaung, Total Now Reaches 93 Since 25 July

Arakan Now | 7 August 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) has continued arresting Rohingya civilians in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, following the detention of about 60 people from farms east of a local village last month.

According to local sources, arrests have been taking place daily since that initial round-up.

About five days ago, AA arrested two Rohingya men, Zubair and Islam, who were reportedly involved in AA’s administrative activities.

Two days later, another Rohingya man named Shwe Mg, also known as စလုံး, son of Nur Alom from Deit Nett Pyin village of Sein Nyin Pyar village tract, was arrested, who has close ties to AA’s human trafficking network.

The day before yesterday, AA detained U Nur Islam, a Rohingya man whose son was killed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in March 2024, according to the villager. He had previously been released from prison by AA after the group took control of Buthidaung township.

On the following day, AA arrested a former village administrator under the previous military government (SAC), named Sedek Amed. He was previously known for his cooperation with the AA before they gained control of the area.

A resident told Arakan Now, “These are only the names of those who had roles under AA. There are many more arrests happening daily in Sein Nyin Pyar and Tha Yet Taung villages.”

The villagers estimated that by yesterday, at least 93 Rohingya individuals had been arrested since 25 July.

Due to the ongoing arrests and instability, many Rohingya from Sein Nyin Pyar and Tha Yet Taung villages continue fleeing toward the Bangladesh border almost every day.

Meanwhile, AA has reportedly started digging defense trenches and preparing artillery positions around Gudar Pyin village. Locals believe this is in response to rumors that the Myanmar military (SAC) might launch attacks from the Naf River in an attempt to regain control of Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

A resident said, “We’re not even thinking about a possible fight between AA and ARSA. We are just trying to figure out how to get food for tonight. There’s no NGO or INGO support, and people aren’t allowed to go to their farms.”

Others from Sein Nyin Pyar say they are being forced to move to other villages like Gudar Pyin because they cannot afford the trafficking fees demanded by AA, which range from 1.2 to 1.5 million kyats (12 to 15 lakhs) per person.

The situation remains tense, with rising fear, lack of food, and increasing displacement.