Two Rohingya Youths Missing After Joining Arakan Army in Thin Taung village of Buthidaung Township

Arakan Now, 30 April 2025

Two Rohingya youths from Thin Taung village in Buthidaung Township have been missing for over a month after joining the Arakan Army (AA), a local resident told Arakan Now.

The villager said that the two youths were among several villagers who were forced to join the AA about six or seven months ago. Since then, they had sometimes contacted their families. They even returned home a few times or met with other villagers. Everything seemed normal until about a month ago.

Now, it has been one full month since the families last heard from them. Their families are deeply worried. They have gone to the AA office several times to ask about their sons. But the AA keeps saying that the youths are fine. The families are not allowed to meet or talk to them.

The villagers believe the two youths may have been sent to the frontlines and possibly killed. They think this may be the reason why the AA is hiding the truth and not giving clear answers.

The same resident told Arakan Now, “The AA is forcing people in every village to join them. Everyone is afraid. Some are even ready to flee because of the forced recruitment. We would join if there was a promise that we would not be sent to fight in the war. But there is no such promise. Many families have lost contact with their sons after they were taken by the AA.”