Arakan Army Forcibly Conscripts 20 Rohingya Youths into Military Service in Buthidaung Township

Photo: The Diplomat

Arakan Now | 5 Feb 2026

The Arakan Army has forcibly conscripted 20 Rohingya youths on 4 February 2026 from three villages in Buthidaung Township, Northern Rakhine State—Ka Kyet Pet, Bagunna, and Myaung Nar into military service, according to multiple sources.

Myaung Nar Middle Village ( 5 youths)

The identified individuals are:

1. Faruk, son of Ali Hussain

2. Faruk, son of Laru Ahmed (Hamfuru)

3. Abdul Amin, son of Shuna Miya

4. Hidayat Gullah, son of Mohamed Ali

5. Salim, son of Abdul Horim

   
   

Myaung Nar Village (Dali Ywar) (5 youths)

The identified individuals are:

1. Lalaya, son of Mohamed Noor

2. Azai Mullah, son of Sur Mamad

3. Mubarak

4. Abdul Hashim

5. Son of Hamid Salam (name not confirmed)

   
   

Ka Kyet Pet Village (5 youths)

The identities of the conscripted youths remain unknown.

Bagunna Village (5 youths)

The identities of the conscripted youths remain unknown.

The remaining names will be updated as soon as they become available. Due to ongoing network blackouts, it is extremely difficult to confirm full details.

According to residents, five youths from  Bagunna Village were abducted by the AA from Ward 5 of Buthidaung Township while fleeing to Bangladesh over due to fears of forced conscription.

A local resident told Arakan Now that the AA  had informed the village administrators that every village must provide 25 people over the age of 18– 15 male and 10 female who are unmarried.

"They warned that if the village couldn’t provide the required number, residents would not be allowed to stay and would have to leave Arakan," the resident said.

The source added that no village has yet been able to provide the demanded number of youths, including women. Instead, they could only provide five youths from each village. The AA is reportedly exerting unprecedented pressure on communities to submit full lists of eligible youths, and underage youths have also been conscripted.

Another source added that many youths are no longer sleeping at home due to the fear of abduction for military service and are instead hiding. Many have already left their villages and departures are continuing.

The situation of Buthidaung Township remains tense as residents fear further forced conscription and displacement.

Arakan Now will continue to monitor the developments and reports as more information becomes available.