Burma Campaign UK Urges UK to Sanction Arakha Army Over Human Rights Abuses

Burma Campaign UK

Arakan Now | 25 February 2026

Burma Campaign UK today called on the British government to impose sanctions on the Arakha Army in response to what it says are numerous human rights abuses, including violations of international law.

The organisation also urged the UK to support international justice efforts to hold the Arakha Army and its leadership accountable, and to convene a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Arakan State. Burma Campaign UK said a senior UN human rights official should be invited to brief the meeting

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Following Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, the Arakha Army (formerly the Arakan Army, AA) has been fighting to free Arakan State from military occupation. The group has achieved significant gains, controlling almost the entire state, and is considered a hero by many in Burma.

However, Burma Campaign UK said the Arakha Army now acts in ways similar to the Burmese military and is responsible for numerous human rights violations. Links to reports documenting these abuses were included in the organisation’s statement.

In July 2025, the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar reported it had begun investigations into crimes allegedly committed by members of the Arakha Army, including summary executions, torture, and beheadings of military personnel and civilians suspected of being military informants. The Mechanism is also collecting information on sexual violence, including rape, against Chin women.

In January 2026, the British government stated: “The Rohingya are likely to face a real risk of persecution or serious harm from non-state actors, namely the Arakan Army in Rakhine state.”

Burma Campaign UK listed documented crimes by the Arakha Army, including massacres—such as an attack that killed hundreds of fleeing civilians—mass detention, torture, beheadings, forced displacement, looting, blocking access to work or food, extortion, forced recruitment, aid restrictions, forced labour, and burning people alive while locked in their homes.

The group has also taken over parts of neighbouring Chin State, where accusations of rape, executions, and abductions have been reported.

Burma Campaign UK said the Arakha Army oppresses not only people of different ethnicities and religions but also ethnic Arakanese. People are reportedly afraid to criticise the group publicly, internet access is restricted, and at least one journalist has been arrested for activities described as “going beyond the rules.”

The organisation also accused the Arakha Army of breaking international law by executing captured Burmese soldiers, including by throat-cutting or burning them alive.

“Allowing the Arakha Army to continue to commit human rights abuses with impunity only encourages them to think they can get away with more abuses,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK.

“Private dialogue with the Arakha Army has not resulted in significant change in their behaviour. It is time that they faced consequences for their actions.”